Activism and Social Policy in the Post-­Agrarian Development of the Russian Countryside

Abstract

This article examines the interaction between state social policy and civic initiatives during the process of post-agrarian development of rural areas in Russia. Using the village of Ozyornoye as a case study, it explores the mechanisms of rural revitalization that emerge at the intersection of state programmes for rural support and the local activities of urban and rural stakeholders. Based on qualitative methods, such as in-depth interviews, participant observation, and the analysis of local projects, the study demonstrates that, while social policy defines the institutional framework, it acquires its practical meaning through concrete 'bottom-up' initiatives. These initiatives are not only related not to economic reproduction, but also to the formation of a new social environment, symbolic capital, and local identity. Post-agrarian development is interpreted as a transition from the productivist logic of the agrarian economy towards multi-­level forms of social and cultural activity. In this context, cultural, sports, and tourism initiatives, farms, and projects for the preservation of natural heritage play a key role. Activists act as mediators between state policy and local communities, converting economic, social, and cultural capital into symbolic resources that strengthen rural resilience. The findings show that rural life cannot be revitalized without the synergy of vertical (state) and horizontal (civic) development mechanisms. While state programmes oriented towards infrastructure and cultural projects create enabling conditions, it is the actions of local actors that lend these initiatives meaning and viability. This reflects a key feature of the post-agrarian stage: a shift in focus from production to the reproduction of social ties, cultural values, and collective identity. Thus, the study contributes to our understanding of social policy as a system implemented not only through state institutions, but also through local forms of civic participation. Within these forms, new models of sustainability for rural communities emerge.