The evolution of the women's movement in post-Soviet states: From unsuccessful parties to powerful NGOs.

My paper will focus on women’s movements in post-Soviet states. I will apply Raka Ray’s Fields of Protest approach while also utilizing political process theory to explain the pattern of post-Soviet women’s movements in three distinct states..x000d.The women’s movement in the post-Soviet states has turned to non-governmental organizations and other non-institutional means of protest in the face of abysmal showings by women’s political parties. Most women in these groups would not classify themselves as feminists. These organizations are largely a reflection of the environment in each organization’s specific country. .x000d.The three states I will highlight are Moldova, Georgia, and Latvia. I will examine the homogeneity of each of these states along with the rigidity of the power structures as did Ray in her study of Indian women’s movements and also focus on the political opportunities afforded to the movements within each state to explain the divergent paths of women’s organizations within these countries. This study should make a considerable contribution to movement methodology. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]