The revolution from above met up with the revolution from below with the ousting of Mikhail Gorbachev. This book details the growth of independent political movements on the ground since 1985 to the present day in the former Soviet Union. The authors show how these movements grew and became a real factor in Soviet politics and what role they play in the necessary development of civil society as is known to true democracies. In addition to analyzing these bodies, comparing and contrasting their policies and support, this volume acts as a reference book with factual information on the various groups' aims, programmes, internal structures, principal personalities, constituencies, methods of work, relationships with other groups (including splits, alliances and mergers) and relations with the authorities. The authors present an analysis of the impact of the new political movements on the new institutions and discuss to what extent they have been responsible for the recent unprecedented changes.