The Alcoholic Empire - Vodka & Politics in Late Imperial Russia

The Alcoholic Empire examines the prevalence of alcohol in Russian social, economic, religious, and political life. Herlihy looks at how the state, the church, the military, doctors, lay societies, and the czar all tried to battle the problem of overconsumption of alcohol in the late imperial period. Since vodka produced essential government revenue and was a backbone of the state economy, many who fought for a sober Russia believed that the only way to save the country through Revolutionary change. This book traces temperance activity and politics side by side with the end of the tsarist regime, while showing how the problem of alcohoism continued to pervade Soviet and post-Soviet society. Illustrated by timeless and incisive sayings about the Russian love of vodka and by poster art and paintings, this book will appeal to Russian and European historians and those interested in temperance history.

Product details

• Authors: Patricia Herlihy, Herlihy Patricia
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 16.01.2003
• EAN: 9780195160956
• ISBN: 978-0-19-516095-6
• No. of pages: 252
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 230 mm x 15 mm
• Series: Print on demand
• Subjects: Non-fiction book; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, Russia, European History, HISTORY / Europe / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / General, 20th Century, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Disease & Health Issues, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, Illness & addiction: social aspects, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions, Revolutionary groups & movements, Health, illness and addiction: social aspects, Revolutionary groups and movements, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Activism & Social Justice, HISTORY / Russia / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Russian & Soviet, HISTORY / Russia / Imperial, HISTORY / Revolutions, Uprisings & Rebellions