Russia under the Old Regime

Explore the complex history of Russia's development in this insightful analysis of the evolution of the Russian state from the 9th century to the 1880s. Unlike the rest of Europe, natural geographical conditions posed a challenge for the construction of an effective regime, resulting in the emergence of a "patrimonial" state where the country was considered the personal property of the tsar. This book delves into the evolution of this regime and examines the political behaviors of different social groups as they failed to resist increasing absolutism. Discover how this led to the emergence of a bureaucratic police state and the role of the intelligentsia in countering this challenge.