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Informationen zum Autor Richard Pipes Klappentext "For anyone who wants an insight into the nature of Russian society before the revolution, there is no doubt that Professor Pipes has written the book."-Lionel Kochan, Jewish Chronicle This highly acclaimed study from Richard Pipes analyzes the evolution of the Russian state from the ninth century to the 1880s and its unique role in managing Russian society. The harsh geographical conditions and sheer size of the country prevented the creation of participatory government, and a "patrimonial" state emerged in which Russia was transformed into a gigantic royal domain. Richard Pipes traces these developments and goes on to analyze the political behavior of the principal social groupings-peasantry, nobility, middle-class, and clergy-and their failure to stand up to the increasing absolutism of the tsar. In order to strengthen his powers, legal and institutional bases were set up that led to the creation of a bureaucratic police state under the Communists. "A brilliant and provocative analysis . . . learned, judicious, witty and full of common sense."-John Keep, The Times Literary Supplement "A lively, profound, often extremely subtle account of the making of the Russian state . . . For the serious student it is required reading which is also a delight. For the general reader with a minimal knowledge of Russian history and puzzled as to what makes the Russians tick, it lights up the whole field."-Edward Crankshaw, The Observer "An excellent introduction, painstaking and enjoyable."-The New York Review of Books "Pipes has produced a masterly interpretative history of tsarist Russa."-Choice Zusammenfassung Analyzes the evolution of the Russian state from the 9th century to the 1880s. It describes the "patrimonial" state, and analyzes the failure of the peasantry, nobility, middle-class and clergy to stand up to the increasing absolutism of the tsar. Inhaltsverzeichnis Foreword to the Second Edition Foreword Chapter 1: The Environment and its Consequences 1. The geographic setting: vegetation, soils, climate, precipitation and waterways 2. The influence of Russia's northern location on her economy: A. Short farming season B. Poor yields C. Lack of markets D. Unprofitability of farming E. Industrial side-occupations (promysly) 3. Influence on population movement 4. Influence on social organization: A. Joint family B. Peasant commune (obshchina) 5. Influence on political organization: A. Incompatibility of means and ends B. The 'patrimonial' system as solution Part I: The State Chapter 2: The Genesis of the Patrimonial State in Russia 1. Slav colonization of Russian territory 2. The Norman (Kievan) state: A. The commercial nature of the state B. Succession pattern C. Assimilation of Normans D. Origins of the name Rus'-Rossiia E. The Norman legacy 3. The dissolution of the Kievan state: A. Centrifugal forces B. North west: Novgorod C. Lithuania and Poland 4. The appanage (patrimonial) principality of the north-east: A. The colonization of the Volga-Oka region B. New political attitudes C. The appanage principality as property D. The prince's domain E. The princely administration within and without F. Boyars and boyar land G. 'Black land' 5. The problem of feudalism in appanage Russia: A. Political decentralization B. Vassalage C. Conditional land tenure D. The political consequences of the absence in Russia of feudal tradition 6. Mongol conquest and domination: A. The invasion B. Character of rule and its influence on Russian politics Chapter 3: The Triumph of Patrimonialism 1. The rise of Moscow: A. 'Monocracy' and 'Autocracy' B. The Great Principality of Vladimir and the Nevsky clan C. Ivan I Kalita D...
