Sochi 2014: ecology, Sochi-ites 0 - Russian civil society 1?

The Olympics are often framed as a catalyst for everything from urban (re)development to the embracing of democratic values. This paper aims to show that in a hybrid regime like Russia's, the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi could be a catalyst for civil society development. In the Russian manifestation of a hybrid, the state is constantly reviving old methods and learning new ones to keep the opposition and civil society in check while trying to maintain the illusion of democracy. In this context, Russian civil society is also learning new methods of dealing with the state and strengthening itself in the process. I argue that thanks to the acute environmental and housing issues Olympic preparations bring to the fore, coupled with the authorities' greater than usual abuse of power due to tight deadlines and international image upkeep, the Sochi Games are already providing increased opportunities for local civil society development