Russian politics-1

7/30/2019 Russian politics-1

1/24

Tradition of power organization in

the Russian empire

Elena Meleshkina

[email protected]


2/24

Two ideal types of power

organization

Traditional empire;

Modern territorial nation-state.

Distinguishing characteristics:- Nature of boundaries (territorial, economical, cultural,

political etc.); multiculturalism vs. cultural unification;

- Characteristics of system of government (indirect or

direct rule);- Role of formal and informal institutions;

- Basic goals;

- Role in international system.


3/24

Basic characteristics of empire and modern territorial

stateFeatures Modern state Traditional empire

Boundaries Relatively high level of definiteness

and consolidation of boundaries

(territorial, economic, political,

cultural etc.), cultural and linguistic

unification

Open system striving for

territorial expansion, existence of

limitroph, unconsolidated

boundaries, multiculturalism

System of government Direct government, universal and

standardized structure of government

Indirect, based on mutual

practices of exchange (economic

benefits, privileges etc. in

exchange for loyalty), low level of

standardization and unification

of norms and practices

Role of formal and informalinstitutes

Predominance of formal norms andpractices

High role of informal institutesand interpersonal relations

Basic goals Organization of internal space Civilization mission, orientation

toward external goals

Role in international system Action within boundaries recognized

by international community

according to the principle ofterritorial sovereignty

Action within boundaries

recognized by its own constituent

entities


4/24


5/24

Phases of territorial expansion


6/24

The territory of the empire

The Russian Empire included territories of theUkraine (Dnieper Ukraine and Crimea), Belarus,Moldova (Bessarabia), Armenia, Azerbaijan,Georgia (including Mengrelia), the Central Asian

states (Russian Turkestan) of Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan andUzbekistan, most of Lithuania, Latvia andEstonia (Baltic provinces), a significant portion ofFinland (Great Duchy of Finland) Poland

(Kindom of Poland) and Ardahan, Artvin, Idir,Kars and northeastern part of Erzrum fromTurkey (then part of the Ottoman Empire).


7/24

Various historical traditions and

different status within the empire

Polish territories were included in Russian

empires after three division of Poland (1772,

1793, 1795) by Russia, Austria and Prussia;

Following the Swedish defeat in the Finnish Warand the signing of the Treaty of Fredrikshamn on

17 September 1809, Finland was incorporated

into the Russian Empire as an authonomus

Great duchy. The Tsar ruled the Great duchy asa constitutional monarch through his governor

and a native Finnish Senate appointed by him.


8/24

Administrative division

Russia was divided into 81 governorates (guberniyas), 20 oblasts, and2 okrugs. Vassals and protectorates of the Russian Empire includedthe Emirate of Bukhara, the Khanate of Khiva and, after 1914, Tuva(Uriankhai).

11 Governorates, 17 oblasts and 1 okrug (Sakhalin) belonged to AsianRussia. 8 Governorates were in Finland, 10 in Poland. EuropeanRussia thus embraced 59 governorates and 1 oblast (that of theDon).

Most of the units had the rest had each a governor and deputy-governor.

In addition there were governors-general, placed over severalgovernorates. In 1906, there were governors-general in Finland,

Warsaw, Vilna, Kiev, Moscow, and Riga.The larger cities (Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Odessa, Sevastopol,

Kerch, Nikolaev, Rostov) had an administrative system of their own,independent of the governorates; in these cities the chief of policeacted as governor.


9/24

Administrative division of the

Russian empire


10/24

Different legal norms for different

territorial units In 1913 49 governorates of Russian empire were ruled

according to The Common governorate code, 9governorates according to the Code of rule of thePolish kingdom, 13 governorates according to theCode of rule of Caucasus, 10 Siberian governorates

according to the Code of Siberian rule. There was thespecial Code of rule of oblasts. Great duchy of Finlandhad its own Seim and Constitution.

There was The code of lows of Russian empire.However the civil and trade codes of Napoleon (in the

Polish kingdom), the Common code of Sweden kingdom(in Great duchy of Finland), Lithuanian and otherstatutes, Seim constitutions, Magdeburg lows (inWestern provinces) were also applied etc.


11/24

Different legal norms for different

groups of people

The existence of estates (nobility, clergy,

merchant class, peasantry etc.) => legal

inequality;

A special code for Aliens (non-Russian

people)

Special rules for military-people

(highlanders and some others)


12/24

Ethnic diversity and language

policy Slaves: Russians (72,5%), Poles (6,6% of population of

European parts of the Russian empire), Ukraininans,Belorussians

Baltic people;

German peoples; Finish people;

Turks;

Mongolians;

Others

Several state languages. For example: Sweden and Finishlanguages in Finland


13/24

Ethnic composition of the Russian

empire


14/24

Forms of government and political

regimes.

Russian empire was an absolute monarchy until

the Revolution of 1905.

Russian tsars was a big and had absolute power.

Paul I: In Russia somebody could be importantonly if I speak to him and only when I speak to

him.

Peter the Gtreat changed his title from Tsar in1721, when he was declared the Emperor of all

Russia.


15/24

Power structure and reforms

The basis of bureaucratic system were establishedby Peter the Great in the beginning of 18century.

Before that time on the regional and local levelRussia was ruled by representatives of Tsar(voevoda). Bribery and embezzlement werewidespread.

The Great reforms of 1860-1870th

effected byAlexander II (judicial reform, reform of Zemstvo,reform of city self-government, emancipation ofserves, military reform etc.).


16/24


17/24

The Coat of arms of the Russian

Empire


18/24

Forms of government and political

regimes. On 17 October 1905 the Emperor decried that nomeasure was to become law without the consent of the

State Duma established by the Organic Law issued on28 April 1906.

The Emperor retained the right to disband the Duma.

He retained an absolute veto over all legislations, andonly he could initiate any changes to the Organic Lawitself.

His ministers were responsible solely to him, and not tothe Duma, which could question but could not remove

them.Before 1905 the fundamental laws described the power ofthe Emperor as "autocratic and unlimited. After October1905, while the imperial style was still "Emperor and

Autocrat of All the Russias" the fundamental laws wereremodeled by removing the word unlimited


19/24

Structure of power

Under Russia's Fundamental Law of 20 February 1906,the Council of the Empire was associated with the Duma(the Lower house) as a legislative Upper House. TheCouncil of the Empire, or Imperial Council consisted of

196 members, of whom 98 were nominated by theEmperor, while 98 were elective.

The Duma of the Empire (Gosudarstvennaya Duma)consisted (since the ukaz of 2 June 1907) of 442members elected by indirect procedure.

Each province of the Empire, except Central Asia, returneda certain number of members; added to these werethose returned by several large cities.


20/24

State Duma


21/24


22/24

Political parties

Fist Russian parties emerged in the end of 19 century andin the beginning of 20 century (social democrats(RSDRP), socialist revolutionaries (esery)).

The 1905 revolution intensified the creation of political

parties.During the revolution liberal and right parties have been

created (Constitutional democratic party, Union of 17October, Union of Russian people etc.).

Some parties had their representatives in the State Duma.

More than 50 political parties.


23/24


24/24

Conclusion

Some modern political institutions

emerged;

The Russian empire still remains

traditional empire with the limited

autocratic rule of the emperor;

It created strong imperial tradition of power

organization which would hinder the future

development of the Russian state.

Russian politics-1

Documents

Transcript of Russian politics-1