Conference To Focus On Civil Society In Russia

January 30, 2001

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, promises of freedom, equality and justice for Russian society largely remain unfulfilled. To examine this problem, Baylor University's J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies and the Slavic and East European Studies program will sponsor "Civil Society and the Search for Justice in Russia" Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 1-3.
"This conference will examine how, in the past 10 years, Russian society has attempted to rebuild its sense of civic community by drawing upon its religious, cultural and philosophical heritage," said Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev, associate director of the Dawson Institute and assistant professor of church-state studies.
Major presenters at the conference include Georgy Bovt, editor of "Izvestiya" (one of Russia's largest national newspapers), Nicolai Petro, associate professor of political science at the University of Rhode Island, who served as temporary political attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1989-1990, and Dr. Gregory Kljutcharev, professor at the Russian Independent Institute of Social and Nationalities Problems in Moscow.
The conference will begin at 1:30 p.m. with discussions on "Civil Society in Russia: Its Existence and Utility" by Dr. Christopher Marsh, assistant professor of political science, and "Conceptions of Justice in the Russian Tradition" led by Gvosdev.
The conference will resume Friday with discussions on "The Religious Dimension," from 10-11 a.m., "Freedoms and Rights" from 1:30-3 p.m. and "Social Cohesion and Conditions" from 3:30-5 p.m. The conference will conclude Saturday with closing remarks scheduled for 11 a.m. All sessions will be held in the Houston Room of the Bill Daniel Student Center and are free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Gvosdev at 710-1510 or Marsh at 710-6058.