Under the Permafrost: Uncovering a Social Movement in the Soviet Union

Despite the wealth of information on the advent of environmentalism on the Soviet Union less is known about the social aspect of its development. This thesis examines the social aspect of environmentalism through a look at public responses to massive degradation. The instances of intense ecological ruin presented significant public health problems for surrounding communities and this study views these sources as a catalyst for social activism outside of the political spectrum. Perestroika and Chernobyl were two of the important politically charged factors that gave the environmental movement the lift it needed to function. Official organizations working under the direction of intellectuals and academics worked as a moderator between society and the government. The social movement which grew out of dissatisfaction with governmental management of the environment is a unique social activism that developed outside the scope of traditional Soviet civil society. The trilateral separation between the public engagement with environmental protection, the official organizations’ role in advocating for the environment, and the government’s response to protecting the environment left a legacy that continues to affect environmentalism under the Russian Federation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Slavic and East European Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Jones, Sarah Jessica

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hoffmann, David
• Breyfogle, Nick

• Agriculture
• Environmental Management
• Environmental Health
• Environmental Studies
• History
• Public Health
• Public Administration
• Russian History
• Slavic Studies
• Social Structure

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: some rights reserved. It is licensed for use under a Creative Commons license. Specific terms and permissions are available from this document's record in the OhioLINK ETD Center.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366211237

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1366211237