Could Stolypin Have Been the Saviour of Russia?
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- Category: History: Russian
- Date Submitted: 03/21/2011 03:15 PM
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Pyotr Stolypin was regarded by many as a ruthless Prime Minister who knew no bounds when it came to preventing the spread of Radical and Revolutionary ideas in 1900s. Renown for his avid use of the gallows to snuff out any radical leaders or terrorists of the time, the hangman’s noose quickly became known as “Stolypin’s Neck Tie”. Due to Stolypin’s reputation preceding him there is a mixed view on his role in Russian history due to his aims in keeping autocracy firmly in control and swiping aside any Radical Ideas.
Stolypin’s main policy for improving the situation in Russia was the Agrarian Scheme that employed capitalist techniques to improve the peasantry and farming production of agricultural Russia. Not only improving it but increasing output by moving members of the peasantry to large fertile areas of Russia that were unused such as Siberia or the Ukraine. He aimed at a “wager on the strong”, the creation of an independent peasantry which would become a large part of the reformed autocracy. He made it possible for ex-serfs to buy themselves out of the peasant commune and for small strips to be consolidated into capitalist farms, aided by loans from the Peasant Land Bank. This was mainly due to the belief that the Peasantry was simultaneously Russia’s greatest weakness and strength.
Some of Stolypin's policies were opposed by the socialists and liberals. This didn't displease him much as he saw them as a nuisance, rather than a real threat. The opposition caused Stolypin to dissolve the Duma in 1907.
Due to Stolypin’s strong opposition to Radical and Revolutionary ideas he knew that in order to ensure the survival of autocracy a series of small reforms needed to be made to create a wealth and prosperous middle class. This needed to be done through his reforms. As a result of this he can be classed as the last possible saviour of the Russian Autocracy in the 1900s, keeping radicals and revolutionaries at bay with enforcing strict measures and ensuring a...
Stolypin’s main policy for improving the situation in Russia was the Agrarian Scheme that employed capitalist techniques to improve the peasantry and farming production of agricultural Russia. Not only improving it but increasing output by moving members of the peasantry to large fertile areas of Russia that were unused such as Siberia or the Ukraine. He aimed at a “wager on the strong”, the creation of an independent peasantry which would become a large part of the reformed autocracy. He made it possible for ex-serfs to buy themselves out of the peasant commune and for small strips to be consolidated into capitalist farms, aided by loans from the Peasant Land Bank. This was mainly due to the belief that the Peasantry was simultaneously Russia’s greatest weakness and strength.
Some of Stolypin's policies were opposed by the socialists and liberals. This didn't displease him much as he saw them as a nuisance, rather than a real threat. The opposition caused Stolypin to dissolve the Duma in 1907.
Due to Stolypin’s strong opposition to Radical and Revolutionary ideas he knew that in order to ensure the survival of autocracy a series of small reforms needed to be made to create a wealth and prosperous middle class. This needed to be done through his reforms. As a result of this he can be classed as the last possible saviour of the Russian Autocracy in the 1900s, keeping radicals and revolutionaries at bay with enforcing strict measures and ensuring a...