Modernisation has been a constant theme in Russian history at least since Peter the Great launched a series of initiatives aimed at closing the economic, technical and cultural gap between Russia and the more ‘advanced’ countries of Europe. All of the leaders of the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia have been intensely aware of this gap, and have pursued a number of strategies, some more successful than others, in order to modernise the country. But it would be wrong to view modernisation as a unilinear process which was the exclusive preserve of the state. Modernisation has had profound effects on Russian society, and the attitudes of different social groups have been crucial to the success and failure of modernisation. This volume examines the broad theme of modernisation in late imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet Russia both through general overviews of particular topics, and specific case studies of modernisation projects and their impact. Modernisation is seen not just as an economic policy, but as a cultural and social phenomenon reflected through such diverse themes as ideology, welfare, education, gender relations, transport, political reform, and the Internet. The result is the most up to date and comprehensive survey of modernisation in Russia available, which highlights both one of the perennial problems and the challenges and prospects for contemporary Russia.

Modernisation has been a constant theme in Russian history at least since Peter the Great launched a series of initiatives aimed at closing the economic, technical and cultural gap between Russia and the more ?advanced? countries of Europe. All of the leaders of the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia have been intensely aware of this gap, and have pursued a number of strategies, some more successful than others, in order to modernise the country. But it would be wrong to view modernisation as a unilinear process which was the exclusive preserve of the state. Modernisation has had profound effects on Russian society, and the attitudes of different social groups have been crucial to the success and failure of modernisation.This volume examines the broad theme of modernisation in late imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet Russia both through general overviews of particular topics, and specific case studies of modernisation projects and their impact. Modernisation is seen not just as an economic policy, but as a cultural and social phenomenon reflected through such diverse themes as ideology, welfare, education, gender relations, transport, political reform, and the Internet. The result is the most up to date and comprehensive survey of modernisation in Russia available, which highlights both one of the perennial problems and the challenges and prospects for contemporary Russia.

Hans Rogger's study of Russia under the last two Tsars takes as its starting point what the Russians themselves saw as the central issue confronting their nation: the relationship between state and society, and its effects on politics, economics and class in these critical years.

This resource is written for for students studying the economic and social development of Russia and the Soviet Union, as well as the nature of Russian government and its impact on the Russian people in this period.

This volume provides a comparative study of the problems and prospects of reform in modern Russian history. Drawn from contributions to a May 1990 conference sponsored by the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, the book raises important methodological and historiographic questions regarding the content, scope, and significance of various reform efforts, ranging from the Great Reforms of tsar Alexander II to attempts to salvage the Soviet system undertaken by Khrushchev and Gorbachev. One of the key issues raised is whether various attempts to modernise the political and social system were a series of cyclical failures or demonstrate a pattern of progressive development.Reform in Modern Russian History favours the second mode of interpretation and provides an excellent background for all who want to understand the Gorbachev era and contemporary Russian politics.

Eight essays explore the political, economic, and culture mileau on the eve of the Russian Revolution. The topics include urban growth and anti-semitism in Russian Moldavia, peasant resettlement and social control, the view of the revolution in recent western literature, and the Rasputin legend. No index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR