Project description
Civic engagement in revolutionary Russia
Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the UrbanCommunityAtWar project explores grassroots democratic practices in Russian cities during the First World War and the Revolution (1914-1922). Challenging the idea of political passivity under authoritarianism, the project focuses on how ordinary urban residents organised self-governing bodies to address daily needs and protect their communities. The study uses linguistic, historical and anthropological methods to analyse self-identification, political behaviour and communication practices. By examining these phenomena at the local level, the project offers new insights into how democratic participation can emerge in non-democratic settings. It aims to contribute to debates on civil society, urban community formation and the history of democracy in times of crisis.
Objective
Civil society is often seen as a key driver of democratization, helping to open up authoritarian regimes and pave the way for political transitions. Despite these perceptions, research indicates that practices of political engagement in authoritarian regimes is often overlooked or misunderstood. In Russia, grassroots political activism has a long history, even if it remains fragmented and localized. Citizens often organize at the community level to address immediate social and economic concerns, particularly in times of crisis. This form of participation, though not always recognized as political, demonstrates the persistence of civic engagement even under repressive conditions.
During periods of profound upheaval, such as World War I and the Russian Revolution, ordinary people began to establish informal networks and self-governing bodies, like housing committees and cooperatives, to meet their needs and protect their interests. These grassroots efforts contributed to the development of democratic practices, even in the absence of formal democratic institutions.
This project seeks to explore the spread of self-governance and civic engagement in Russian cities between 1914 and 1922. It focuses on how different social groups, often with no prior experience in political participation, became involved in addressing the challenges posed by war and revolution. By examining local forms of self-organization and communication, the study will shed light on the role of ordinary people in shaping their communities and influencing political processes. Understanding these dynamics will provide new insights into the history of Russian society and the broader role of grassroots activism in political change.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- social sciences political sciences political transitions revolutions
- social sciences political sciences political policies civil society
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
NG7 2RD Nottingham
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.