Tsarist ideology + autocracy

When was Russia governed as an autocracy

1855-March 1917

Autocracy

Tsars absolute power, said to be ordained by God, all Russians had to obey will or be punished

Three strands to tsarist autocracy

• Willing and total submission of subjects → system based on religious faith, did not require tsar to be made accountable to people through elections/constitutional government\

• Moral judge on behalf of God → paternalistic duty to protect subjects, control their behaviour for good of nation. Supported in this role by Russian Orthodox Church

• Practical necessity due to vast Russian Empire → Pobedonostsev (supporter of tsarist regime + tutor to Alex II’s sons incl. Alex III) said a liberal democracy and constitutional gov. would have been disastrous. Too many people demanding different policies, also many illiterate peasants and therefore governance of Russia by those who lacked ‘the ability to reason’

Nicholas I promoting tsarism

• Propaganda slogans e.g. ‘Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Nationality’

• 1832 Fundamental Laws → reinforced ideology underpinning tsarist rule

What happened in 1866

Assassination attempt on Alexander II → despite showing reformist tendencies → adhered very strongly to concept of autocracy after, significantly slowed down and reversed many of his initial liberal reforms

Alexander III opinions

Blames move towards liberalism by Alex II for his 1881 assassination

What did Alexander III do → reactionary

Opposition such as the People’s Will was ruthlessly suppressed

Many changes made by Alex II reversed

Pobedonostsev influenced this ‘reaction’ → argued that ‘parliamentarianism’ was unworkable

Nicholas II 1905

Some liberal concessions → October Manifesto and new constitution, then Duma 1906

Why was Nicholas II more liberal in 1905

Forced onto tsar as result of economic crisis and consequences of Russo-Japanese War 1905-6

Nicholas 1906 Fundamental Laws

• Reiterated need for preservation of autocracy, reference to God commanding obedience to tsar’s authority, Russian empire as being governed by firmly established laws that had been properly enacted

• Law 5 → Supreme autocratic power belongs to the Emperor of Russia

• DILUTED THE EFFECT OF THE 1905 REFORMS AND DUMA

• By 1917 the Duma was very unproductive, just a place for politicians committed to autocracy to talk.