This text stems from my research interest in the origins, the development and the conditions of civil society in Russia. One of the phenomena under study was the extent to which Russia’s citizens are interested in actively participating in social and political life of their country, region and local community. As a result, the notion of apathy surfaced from a number of research projects carried out by other scholars in Russia. Another phenomenon, that appeared to be of great concern to many observers, was that of Western assistance. The state authorities, as well as NGO leaders and the general public were taking very different and changing attitudes towards the presence and work of foreign donors