This book, first published in 1998, is an original and comprehensive study of a key period of Russian history, between the success of the autocracy in retaining power in the 1905 Revolution and the debacle of the Tsar’s crushing defeat in 1917. Focusing on Stolypin, Prime Minister between 1906–11, the study explores tsarism’s final attempt to reform Russia. Stolypin seized the opportunity to drive through a programme which would have transformed the social and political structure of Imperial Russia by promoting the development of an independent peasantry and reducing the authority of the traditional elites. The book analyses the weakness of the new parliamentary system and the continuing influence of the traditional elites.

This selection of documents - for the most part never before translated into English - traces the process of modernization which took place in Russia between 1856 and 1881. Political, social and economic developments are dealt with in thematic sections and the documents also show the growth of the revolutionary movement and conservative attempts to quell it. The great flowering of Russian literature and art during the quarter-century is also reflected. The documents are accompanied by individual commentaries and an extensive guide to further reading, whilst the volume is prefaced by a substantial introductory essay setting the documents in context.

This is a volume of essays exploring important themes in the economic and social history of Russia and the Soviet Union during the critical period between 1860 and 1930. It covers developments in agriculture, industry, trade, economic theory, defence policy and the social impact of revolution. The essays are written by well-established specialists in Russian and Soviet economic and social history and are intended as a tribute to the work of the highly-esteemed economic historian Olga Crisp.

This book, first published in 1998, is an original and comprehensive study of a key period of Russian history, between the success of the autocracy in retaining power in the 1905 Revolution and the debacle of the Tsar's crushing defeat in 1917. Focusing on Stolypin, Prime Minister between 1906-11, the study explores tsarism's final attempt to reform Russia. Stolypin seized the opportunity to drive through a programme which would have transformed the social and political structure of Imperial Russia by promoting the development of an independent peasantry and reducing the authority of the traditional elites. The book analyses the weakness of the new parliamentary system and the continuing influence of the traditional elites.

The Soviet Union was one of the most significant historical phenomena of the twentieth century. This volume brings together key articles that analyse its birth in the 1917 revolution, the development of Stalin's tyranny and Soviet decline from the 1960s onwards. The collection includes scholarship of the highest quality that illuminates this key episode in the history of both Europe and the wider world.

The Soviet Union was one of the most significant historical phenomena of the twentieth century. This volume brings together key articles that analyse its birth in the 1917 revolution, the development of Stalin's tyranny and Soviet decline from the 1960s onwards. The collection includes scholarship of the highest quality that illuminates this key episode in the history of both Europe and the wider world.

This is a volume of essays exploring important themes in the economic and social history of Russia and the Soviet Union during the critical period between 1860 and 1930. It covers developments in agriculture, industry, trade, economic theory, defence policy and the social impact of revolution. The essays are written by well-established specialists in Russian and Soviet economic and social history and are intended as a tribute to the work of the highly-esteemed economic historian Olga Crisp.

This selection of documents - for the most part never before translated into English - traces the process of modernization which took place in Russia between 1856 and 1881. Political, social and economic developments are dealt with in thematic sections and the documents also show the growth of the revolutionary movement and conservative attempts to quell it. The great flowering of Russian literature and art during the quarter-century is also reflected. The documents are accompanied by individual commentaries and an extensive guide to further reading, whilst the volume is prefaced by a substantial introductory essay setting the documents in context.

The Tsarist Empire posed unique problems to its rulers. Peter Waldron examines the challenges that faced them in terms of geography, culture, finance and military power, analysing the sources of the Russian Empire's strength and the reasons why--when other European monarchies were forced to surrender authority--the tsars were able to maintain their unlimited power for so long.

The Tsarist regime collapsed in 1917 with barely a whimper. Nicholas II abdicated in February in the face of popular unrest in the Russian capital and, less than eight months later, the Provisional Government which had replaced the autocracy was brusquely swept aside by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The dramatic events of 1917 had their roots, however, firmly in the history of Russia. This book examines the imperial Russian state and the society over which it ruled. It deals with Russia during the reigns of the last three Tsars, Alexander II (1855-81), Alexander III (1881-94) and Nicholas II (1894-1917), and identifies the sources of instability - political, economic and social - which meant that, as the great crisis of the First World War engulfed Russia, the Tsarist regime found itself bereft of support. The book examines key themes in the history of late imperial Russia. It looks at the political structures of the empire, the forces of opposition to the regime and the impact of reform in the 1860s. Even though concessions were wrung from the regime in the revolution of 1905, Tsarism proved powerful enough to reassert its authority and render the new parliament ineffective. Economic and social change were much more difficult for the state to manage and the book deals with the attempts at rural reform, analyzing why they failed to bring fundamental change to the Russian countryside. As industrialization proceeded, Russian cities expanded and brought huge social change. Working people were to play a key role in eventually bringing an end to Tsarism. Russia was a multinational empire and the impact that the state's imperial ambitions had, both internally and on Russian foreign policy, are considered. It was the First World War which proved to be the midwife of revolution: between 1914 and 1917 the strains which had accumulated in Russia over the previous 60 years came to a head. The book concludes by analyzing why the Tsarist regime failed to survive this great crisis.