Russia: Most or Least

Russia: A Study in Extremes

Russia frequently occupies the extremes, rarely settling in the middle ground. Its characteristics, whether 'most' or 'least,' significantly shape its historical trajectory.

Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution

• Cultural Isolation: Russia stands apart from the cultural movements of the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution.
• Peter the Great: He exemplifies the drive to bring science and modernization to Russia.

Peter the Great: An Absolutist

• St. Petersburg: Peter the Great constructed St. Petersburg, not just as a palace, but as an entire city, demonstrating his absolutist power.
• Nobility Subjugation: He diminished the power of the nobles, exerting control over their appearance through measures like beard taxes.

Foreign Policy and War

• War as a Tool: Absolutist rulers often use war to project strength.
• Great Northern War: Russia engaged in the Great Northern War with Sweden.
• Western Tour: Peter the Great's travels in the West, particularly in the Netherlands, exposed him to scientific advancements and spurred his efforts to modernize Russia.

1700s-1800s: Russia's Dichotomies

• Least Industrialized: Russia lagged in industrial development during the 19th century, resulting in an overwhelmingly agrarian economy.
• Feudalism: Serfdom persisted until the late 1800s, reinforcing a rigid class structure.
• Enlightened Absolutism: Catherine the Great, exemplifies enlightened absolutism through reforms such as establishing schools for girls and engaging with Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire.
• Conservatism: Russia remained deeply conservative, resisting liberal reforms and maintaining an autocratic system.
• The Napoleonic Wars: Russia's strategy of retreating into its vast territory and employing a scorched earth policy played a crucial role in Napoleon's defeat.
• Romanticism: Russia favored romantic thought, embracing folklore, religion, and customs over rationalism.

Autocracy and Radicalism

• Autocracy: Russia was an autocratic state, with power concentrated in the hands of one ruler.
• Radical Underground: Radical ideologies flourished, leading to acts of violence, including the assassination of Czar Alexander II by the People's Will.

20th Century: War, Revolution, and Communism

• Russo-Japanese War: Russia became the first European country to lose to a non-European country during the industrial age.
• World War 1: Russia faced severe shortages and famine, contributing to the Russian Revolution.
• Most Communist: The Russian Revolution led to the establishment of a communist state.
• Enduring Pain: The Russians demonstrate a capacity for enduring suffering and destruction.

Communist Policies

• Family Law: Aimed to create equality by removing the stigma of not being born from a married couple.
• Nationalization: The government owned the factories.
• Collectivization: The government owned farms, leading to widespread famine.
• Five-Year Plans: Stalin implemented five-year plans to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union.
• Purges: Stalin's purges were totalitarian policies aimed at eliminating opposition.

Cold War and Beyond

• Khrushchev's Secret Speech: Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin's policies is a significant event.
• Heavy Industry: The Soviet Union excelled in heavy industry.
• Space Program: The Soviet Union achieved great technological advancements in space exploration.
• EU and NATO: Russia maintains a distance from the European Union and views NATO as an anti-Russian alliance.