Russia Under the Old Regime: Second Edition

This study delves into the evolution of the Russian state from the 9th century to the 1880s, highlighting its unique role in managing Russian society. It explores how the development of Russia diverged significantly from that of the rest of Europe.

Key Highlights:

• The natural poverty of geographical conditions, which made constructing an effective regime extremely difficult,
• A "patrimonial" state emerged, where the country was perceived as the personal property of the tsar.

Social and Political Analysis:

The book examines the political behavior of Russia's primary social groups:
Peasantry, Nobility, Bourgeoisie, Clergy.

It explains their failure to resist the growing absolutism of the tsar. Notably, only the intelligentsia managed to challenge this authority.

The Resulting State:

In response to this challenge, Russia evolved into a bureaucratic police state, a transformation thoroughly detailed in this analysis.