Intelligentsia Flashcards
Who were the Intelligentsia?
Educated sons of nobles split into slavophiles and westernizers
Where were the Intelligentsia based?
Moscow and St. Petersburg.
How did they spread their ideas?
They produced journals.
How many of them were there?
A few thousand.
What political system did the Intelligentsia oppose?
The autocracy.
How did Alexander II’s reforms impact the Intelligentsia?
They were encouraged by his reforms, especially the relaxation of censorship, which led to more journals.
What did some of them initially call Alexander II?
The ‘Tsar Liberator’.
Why did the Intelligentsia turn against Alexander II?
They were disappointed when he went back on his reforms.
What did the Westernizers believe?
Russia should follow the models of Britain, France, and the US. They supported industrialization.
What did the Slavophiles believe?
Russia had a special destiny, chosen by God. They believed in the uniqueness of Russian peasants. Some thought contact with the West would damage Russia.
Name two problems with the intelligentsia
- The intelligentsia is restricted to Moscow and St. Petersburg
- Needs to influence peasants but difficult
