Russian Liberalism

Paul Robinson

• Publisher: Northern Illinois University Press
• Year: 2023
• eBook ISBN: 9781501772153
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Russian History
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Russian Liberalism charts the development of liberal ideas and political organizations in Russia as well as the implementation of liberal reforms by the Russian and Soviet governments at various points in time. Paul Robinson's comprehensive survey covers the entire period from the late eighteenth century to the present day.

Robinson demonstrates that liberalism has always lacked strong roots in the Russian population, being largely espoused by a narrow group of intellectuals whose culture it has reflected, and has tended toward a form of historical determinism that sees Russia as destined to become like the West.

Many see the current political struggle between Russia and the West as being in part a conflict between the liberal West and an illiberal Russia. By explaining the historical causes of liberalism's failure in that country, Russian Liberalism offers an understanding of a significant aspect of contemporary international affairs. After Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, understanding Russian political thought is a matter of considerable importance.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Notes on Dates and Transliterations
• Introduction
• 1. Defining Russian Liberalism
• 2. Early Russian Liberalism
• 3. The Great Reforms
• 4. The Era of Counter-Reform
• 5. Between Revolutions
• 6. Revolution and Civil War
• 7. Emigration
• 8. Soviet Liberalism
• 9. Perestroika
• 10. Russian Liberalism under Yeltsin
• 11. Russian Liberalism under Putin
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index