Continuity and Change in Russian History – Tsarism and Communism compared The Prince’s Teaching Institute, Birmingham28/11/2015, London 23/01/16 Manchester 23/4/16

Continuity and Change in Russian History On the face of it there are striking points of change in Russian history, ‘turning points’. 1860’s – abolition of serfdom; ‘great reforms’. 1881 – assassination of Alexander II – failure of terrorism, turn to increasing repression 1905 revolution – failed attempt to change direction of autocracy 1917 massive social upheavals and liquidation of propertied classes 1928-32 Stalin revolution destroys traditional peasantry (commune replaced by state and collective farms) 1956 De-Stalinisation 1989/1991 Collapse of Communism Continuity and Change in Russian History

Continuity and Change in Russian History However, the continuities are extraordinary Imperial, Soviet (and post-Soviet) Russia show shared characteristics of Empire Authoritarian politics esp at national level, but some self-rule at local level Economic and technological ‘backwardness’ Large military forces Political repression – censorship; secret police; labour camps (is Stalinism the ‘socialism’ of an autocratic society emerging from serfdom?) Continuity and Change in Russian History

Continuity and Change in Russian History Can we account for continuities? Borders – unclear; brings in multiple ethnicities; creates major need for strong defence. Geography – size Culture – far harder to change a people’s cast of mind than to change its institutions and even social structures. Political culture. Main forces of change? Industrialisation, urbanisation, education, cultural revolution of materialism, consumerism and the digital revolution Continuity and Change in Russian History

Continuity and Change in Russian History Bolshevism/Stalinism fails in its ‘cultural’ war – does not win over the population to its values – vice versa in fact – e.g. re- emergence of church and religion The ‘form’ or variant of communism that emerged in the USSR was a ‘Russian’ model not a ‘universal’ one – i.e. It was moulded by Russian conditions Continuity and Change in Russian History