Final answer:
Civil society in Russia faced obstacles such as rigid social structures, resistance from the nobility, a small middle class, and an oppressed serf population. Industrialization brought additional social and political challenges, while the transition to a market economy has been marred by corruption and lawlessness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of civil society to flourish in Russia has been hindered by a number of obstacles. One significant barrier is the rigid social structure that persisted from the times of autocracy, where landowning nobles dominated society and resisted changes that might threaten their privileges. Moreover, the middle class was too small to effect significant reforms, and the majority of the population were serfs tied to their landowning masters. This traditional structure impeded economic flexibility and growth.
Industrialization in Russia brought its own set of challenges, inducing social and political issues including worker exploitation and the strain on urban infrastructure, which further complicated the development of a robust civil society. Additionally, Russia's move to a market economy was undermined by lawlessness and widespread corruption, which stymied entrepreneurial efforts and economic growth. Current environmental issues and the historical expansion of territorial power by the czars also reflect the complexity of Russia's development and the impediments to a thriving civil society.