Misplaced Pages

Tsarist autocracy: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:10, 26 December 2008 editAltenmann (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers219,178 editsm moved Tsarist absolutism to Tsarist autocracy over redirect← Previous edit Revision as of 20:14, 26 December 2008 edit undoAltenmann (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers219,178 edits this edit & page move: more common term, direct trasnlation of RussianNext edit →
Line 3: Line 3:
It was more despotic than the ], as the Tsar was not constrained by the laws (which he can change). It was more despotic than the ], as the Tsar was not constrained by the laws (which he can change).


The center of the tsarist absolutism was the person of the ] himself, a ] with absolute powers.<ref name=lee>Stephen J. Lee ''Russia and the USSR, 1855-1991: Autocracy and Dictatorship'', Routledge, 2006 The center of the tsarist autocracy was the person of the ] himself, a ] with absolute powers.<ref name=lee>Stephen J. Lee ''Russia and the USSR, 1855-1991: Autocracy and Dictatorship'', Routledge, 2006
ISBN 0415335779, </ref> The purpose of the system was not, however, to benefit the person of the ruler, but the entire country of Russia.<ref name=lee/> ISBN 0415335779, </ref> The purpose of the system was not, however, to benefit the person of the ruler, but the entire country of Russia.<ref name=lee/>


] built upon ] traditions and laid foundations for the tsarist absolutism, a system that with some variations would govern Russia for centuries.<ref name=pt>Peter Truscott, ''Russia First: Breaking with the West'', I.B.Tauris, 1997 ] built upon ] traditions and laid foundations for the tsarist autocracy, a system that with some variations would govern Russia for centuries.<ref name=pt>Peter Truscott, ''Russia First: Breaking with the West'', I.B.Tauris, 1997
ISBN 186064199, </ref><ref name=Viereck>Peter Viereck, ''Conservative Thinkers: From John Adams to Winston Churchill'', Transaction Publishers, 2005 ISBN 186064199, </ref><ref name=Viereck>Peter Viereck, ''Conservative Thinkers: From John Adams to Winston Churchill'', Transaction Publishers, 2005
ISBN 1412805260, </ref> Additional influences include the ] and the ] ideas and administrative system.<ref> Professor Gerhard Rempel, ]</ref><ref name=Viereck/> ] reduced the power of the ] and strengthened the central power of the ], establishing a ] and a ].<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> This was built on by ] and other later Tsars. Although ] made some reforms and established an independent judicial system, Russia did not have a representative assembly (]) or a constitution until the ].<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> The system was abolished after the ]. ISBN 1412805260, </ref> Additional influences include the ] and the ] ideas and administrative system.<ref> Professor Gerhard Rempel, ]</ref><ref name=Viereck/> ] reduced the power of the ] and strengthened the central power of the ], establishing a ] and a ].<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> This was built on by ] and other later Tsars. Although ] made some reforms and established an independent judicial system, Russia did not have a representative assembly (]) or a ] until the ].<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> The system was abolished after the ].


The tsarist absolutism had many supporters within Russia. Major Russian advocates and theorists of absolutism included the world famous writer, ],<ref name=Scanlan>James Patrick Scanlan, ''Dostoevsky the Thinker: A Philosophical Study'', Cornell University Press, 2002, ISBN 0801439949, </ref><ref name=Viereck/>, ],<ref>Richard Pipes, ''Russian Conservatism and Its Critics: A Study in Political Culture'', Yale University Press, 2007, ISBN 0300122691, </ref> ],<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> ],<ref name=Scanlan/> ]<ref name=lee/><ref name=Viereck/> and ]. They all argued that strong and prosperous Russia needs a strong tsar, and philosophies of ] and ] are not fit for Russia.<ref name=Viereck/> For common people, the tsar was responsible for all good in their lives, while all the disasters came from meddling bureaucracy, nobles, and such. The tsarist autocracy had many supporters within Russia. Major Russian advocates and theorists of autocracy included the world famous writer, ],<ref name=Scanlan>James Patrick Scanlan, ''Dostoevsky the Thinker: A Philosophical Study'', Cornell University Press, 2002, ISBN 0801439949, </ref><ref name=Viereck/>, ],<ref>Richard Pipes, ''Russian Conservatism and Its Critics: A Study in Political Culture'', Yale University Press, 2007, ISBN 0300122691, </ref> ],<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> ],<ref name=Scanlan/> ]<ref name=lee/><ref name=Viereck/> and ]. They all argued that strong and prosperous Russia needs a strong tsar, and philosophies of ] and ] are not fit for Russia.<ref name=Viereck/> For common people, the tsar was responsible for all good in their lives, while all the disasters came from meddling bureaucracy, nobles, and such.


In Poland, tsarist absolutism has been analyzed more critically by ]. In Poland, tsarist autocracy has been analyzed more critically by ].


Some historians see the traditions of Tsarist absolutism as partially responsible for laying groundworks for the ] ].<ref>Dennis J. Dunn, ''The Catholic Church and Russia: Popes, Patriarchs, Tsars, and Commissars'', Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004, ISBN 0754636100, </ref><ref name=pt/><ref name=mal>David Lloyd Hoffmann, ''Stalinism: The Essential Readings'', Blackwell Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0631228918, </ref><ref name=Viereck/> They see the traditions of absolutism and patrimonialism as dominating Russia's political culture for centuries; for example, ] wrote that Russian political culture is "rooted in the historical experience of centuries of absolutism."<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> All of those views had been challenged by other historians (for example, Nicolai N. Petro and Martin Malia).<ref name=mal/> Some historians see the traditions of Tsarist autocracy as partially responsible for laying groundworks for the ] ].<ref>Dennis J. Dunn, ''The Catholic Church and Russia: Popes, Patriarchs, Tsars, and Commissars'', Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004, ISBN 0754636100, </ref><ref name=pt/><ref name=mal>David Lloyd Hoffmann, ''Stalinism: The Essential Readings'', Blackwell Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0631228918, </ref><ref name=Viereck/> They see the traditions of autocracy and patrimonialism as dominating Russia's political culture for centuries; for example, ] wrote that Russian political culture is "rooted in the historical experience of centuries of absolutism."<ref>Nicolai N. Petro, ''The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture'', Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, </ref> All of those views had been challenged by other historians (for example, Nicolai N. Petro and Martin Malia).<ref name=mal/>

==Notes==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
<div class='references-small'>
<references/>
</div>


==See also== ==See also==
Line 27: Line 21:
*] *]
*] *]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==

Revision as of 20:14, 26 December 2008

Tsarist autocracy (Template:Lang-ru, Error: {{Transliteration}}: missing language / script code (help)), also known as tsarist absolutism, Russian absolutism, Russian autocracy or Russian despotism refers to a form of absolute monarchy specific to Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire.

It was more despotic than the enlightened absolutism, as the Tsar was not constrained by the laws (which he can change).

The center of the tsarist autocracy was the person of the tsar himself, a sovereign with absolute powers. The purpose of the system was not, however, to benefit the person of the ruler, but the entire country of Russia.

Ivan III built upon Byzantine traditions and laid foundations for the tsarist autocracy, a system that with some variations would govern Russia for centuries. Additional influences include the Tatar Yoke and the Mongol ideas and administrative system. Peter the Great reduced the power of the nobility and strengthened the central power of the tsar, establishing a bureaucracy and a police state. This was built on by Catherine the Great and other later Tsars. Although Alexander II made some reforms and established an independent judicial system, Russia did not have a representative assembly (Duma) or a constitution until the 1905 Revolution. The system was abolished after the Russian Revolution of 1917.

The tsarist autocracy had many supporters within Russia. Major Russian advocates and theorists of autocracy included the world famous writer, Fyodor Dostoyevsky,, Mikhail N. Katkov, Konstantin S. Aksakov, Nikolay Karamzin, Konstantin Pobedonostsev and Pyotr Semyonov. They all argued that strong and prosperous Russia needs a strong tsar, and philosophies of republicanism and liberal democracy are not fit for Russia. For common people, the tsar was responsible for all good in their lives, while all the disasters came from meddling bureaucracy, nobles, and such.

In Poland, tsarist autocracy has been analyzed more critically by Stanisław Mackiewicz.

Some historians see the traditions of Tsarist autocracy as partially responsible for laying groundworks for the Soviet totalitarianism. They see the traditions of autocracy and patrimonialism as dominating Russia's political culture for centuries; for example, Stephen White wrote that Russian political culture is "rooted in the historical experience of centuries of absolutism." All of those views had been challenged by other historians (for example, Nicolai N. Petro and Martin Malia).

See also

References

  1. ^ Stephen J. Lee Russia and the USSR, 1855-1991: Autocracy and Dictatorship, Routledge, 2006 ISBN 0415335779, Google Print, p.1-3
  2. ^ Peter Truscott, Russia First: Breaking with the West, I.B.Tauris, 1997 ISBN 186064199, Google Print, p.17
  3. ^ Peter Viereck, Conservative Thinkers: From John Adams to Winston Churchill, Transaction Publishers, 2005 ISBN 1412805260, Google Print, pp. 84-86
  4. Tartar Yoke Professor Gerhard Rempel, Western New England College
  5. Nicolai N. Petro, The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture, Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, Google Print, p.35-36
  6. Nicolai N. Petro, The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture, Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, Google Print, p.48
  7. ^ James Patrick Scanlan, Dostoevsky the Thinker: A Philosophical Study, Cornell University Press, 2002, ISBN 0801439949, Google Print, p.171-172
  8. Richard Pipes, Russian Conservatism and Its Critics: A Study in Political Culture, Yale University Press, 2007, ISBN 0300122691, Google Print, p.124
  9. Nicolai N. Petro, The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture, Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, Google Print, p.90
  10. Dennis J. Dunn, The Catholic Church and Russia: Popes, Patriarchs, Tsars, and Commissars, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004, ISBN 0754636100, Google Print, p.72
  11. ^ David Lloyd Hoffmann, Stalinism: The Essential Readings, Blackwell Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0631228918, Google Print, p.67-68
  12. Nicolai N. Petro, The Rebirth of Russian Democracy: An Interpretation of Political Culture, Harvard University Press, 1995, ISBN 0674750012, Google Print, p.15

Further reading

  • Paul Dukes, The Making of Russian Absolutism, 1613-1801, Longman, 1986
  • Marshall Poe, "Russian despotism" : the origins and dissemination of an early modern commonplace. Thesis (Ph. D. in History). University of California, Berkeley, 1993.
  • Hugh Ragsdale, The Russian Tragedy: The Burden of History, M.E. Sharpe, 1996, ISBN 1563247550
Categories: