Russian officialdom in crisis : autocracy and local self-government, 1861-1900

Modern Russian history began with the "Great Reforms" of 1861-4 which emancipated the serfs and introduced public self-government to assist the state in managing rural administration and change. In this capacity, peasant and zemstvo self-government, established partly on the basis of Western administrative theory, was important to the solvency of the entire state, autocracy's political evolution, and the fate of the rural gentry, peasants, and townspeople. This book is the first full-scale account of the development of rural self-government from the "Great Reforms" to its bureaucratization in the counterreforms of 1889-90 and their implementation during the following decade. Drawing on a wide range of archival material in Moscow and Leningrad, Pearson pinpoints the concrete problems that Russian officials experienced in introducing rural self-government, and shows that the land captain and zemstvo counterreforms, like the earlier "Great Reforms," resulted from practical statist considerations.

modern Russian History Began With The Great Reforms Of 1861-4 Which Emancipated The Serfs And Introduced Public Self-government To Assist The State In Managing Rural Administration And Change. In This Capacity, Peasant And Zemstvo Self-government, Established Partly On The Basis Of Western Administrative Theory, Was Important To The Solvency Of The Entire State, Autocracy's Political Evolution, And The Fate Of The Rural Gentry, Peasants, And Townspeople. This Book Is The First Full-scale Account Of The Development Of Rural Self-government From The Great Reforms To Its Bureaucratization In The Counterreforms Of 1889-90 And Their Implementation During The Following Decade. Drawing On A Wide Range Of Archival Material In Moscow And Leningrad, Pearson Pinpoints The Concrete Problems That Russian Officials Experienced In Introducing Rural Self-government, And Shows That The Land Captain And Zemstvo Counterreforms, Like The Earlier Great Reforms, Resulted From Practical Statist Considerations.

This book is the first full account of the development of rural self-government in Russia from the emancipation of the serfs to its bureaucratisation in the counter-reforms of 1889-90. Through analysis of central and provincial perceptions of local self-government and conflicting ideologies of reform. Professor Pearson challenges the conventional view of the counter-reforms as a concession to gentry class interests and a reaction against 'zemstvo' political activity. The study illuminates the rural administrative breakdown during Russia's 'crisis of autocracy', beginning in the late 1870s, and reinterprets the role of the landed gentry, prominent state officials, and key commissions, ministries and administrative ideologies in the debates leading to the counter-reforms This book is a full account of the development of rural self-government in Russia, from the "Great Reforms" to its bureaucratization in the counter-reforms of 1889-90 and their implementation in the following decade The Crimean War of 1853-6 is invariably regarded as a turning point in modern Russian history and with good reason.