Nature Of Government-Ideology Flashcards
what is autocracy- tsars
Autocracy is government through one individual with absolute authority. Tsarism was the form that autocracy took in Russia from the Middle Ages through to 1917. The Russian autocrat was the tsar a Russian equivalent of a king. Russia had been ruled by tsars for centuries. From 1613 onwards, all the tsars who ruled belonged to a single dynasty (royal family), the Romanovs.
how was autocracy justified
It is very simplistic to consider the tsars as essentially selfish people, just because they kept power to themselves. Increasingly during the nineteenth century, they and their supporters used ideology to justify autocratic power as a good system of government which benefitted the Tsars as well as the peoples of the Russian Empire. Their ideology was not just about the preservation of their power – it was about the preservation of their power for the benefit of all.
purpose of the three pillars of autocracy
The purpose of these principles was to legitimise and unique ‘changeless’ nature of the Russian system of Tsarism, believing this would preserve Russian greatness. Tsars and their supporters genuinely believed these three principals were for the benefit of Russia for a number of reasons outlined below, and they all sought [sometimes in differing ways] to uphold the Three Pillars.
orthodoxy 1/3 pillars
Orthodoxy legitimised the ‘changeless’ nature of Russia. At its simplest it meant a firm faith in God, as traditional Russia had always had – in opposition to other ideologies. The core belief was that God had made the world how it was and, as a result, the world should remain that way. Similarly, the Church continued to practice superstitious beliefs which had barely changed since the medieval era. For instance, the reverence of icons in icon corners which all Orthodox Russians would have in their home.
the values orthodoxy represented
*To spread the message of divine will it was believed that the Tsar was anointed by God and so their authority could not be challenged. Russia had been blessed by God with the Tsarist system and so the Russian people must obey their Tsar. Orthodox Christians were taught that conditions on Earth were decided by God and that they should not be questioned. This garnered the impression of Russian uniqueness.
*Orthodoxy also brought responsibilities with it: namely, it was seen as the Tsar’s duty to protect Orthodox Christians. the importance of protecting practicing Orthodox Christians, especially those who lived under foreign powers such as the Islamic Ottoman Empire
autocracy 2/3 pillars
Autocracy refers to rule by one person, the Tsar, meaning emperor. This was contrasted to democracy (power to the people), and aristocracy, (rule by elites). The principle of autocracy was that if God appoints the Tsar, the Tsar requires absolute power and the total submission of his people. The Tsars had absolute powers with no legal limits on their authority.
why autocracy was justified; parenalism
Supporters of the regime and propagandists noted this came with responsibility. The Tsar would not just act as a self-interested autocrat, but a ‘little father’ of his people. The Tsar was supposed to act in a paternalistic manner whereby he made decisions for the benefit of his people. The Tsar was often referred to as the ‘little father’ of his people. The analogy of a father-child relationship is a useful one to understand this aspect of Tsarism. The Tsar was supposed to act as the ‘father’ of his people, making the best decisions on their behalf. Whilst his ‘children’ – the Russian people – were supposed to be loyal, obedient, and wholly unable to make the right decisions on their own.
why was autocracy justified, opposition to political change
In the light of Western liberalism and revolution, Tsarism stood in stark contrast to the political developments going on in Western Europe. Supporters of Tsarism argued that developments in Western Europe would lead to chaos and political instability. In particular, Russia stood in contrast to constitutional monarchy [rules limiting monarch’s powers], as established in Britain since the early 1700s; republicanism [a system of government with no monarchy] as established in France after the French revolution of 1789. Russians looked on these political changes as things that caused chaos. Consider, for instance, the English Republican period as an example of the chaos that could result from the overthrow of a stable monarchy.
why was autocracy justified. practicalities
The Russian Empire was so vast and diverse that it required one individual to rule with an iron fist. If power was divided it would lead to chaos and inefficiency.
nationality, 3/3 pillars
Nationality meant Russianism. Russia, according to this philosophy was unique. This was partly a consequence of Orthodoxy, but also a product of their geography and history. The basics of this idea were true: Russia occupied a unique position geographically which stretched from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, politically Russia had followed a distinctive path from the West and, as evidenced by Russian victory in 1812 over Napoleon, it seems to have been successful. For Russia to continue to be a great power, Russianism must be promoted throughout the empire.
the limitations of nationality
The majority of people within the Russian empire were of other ethnicity groups. Relations between these were not always harmonious. This philosophy had implications in terms of how Russia treated these – attempts to ‘Russify’ were common. Those ethnic groups deemed separatist were ‘Russified’ in an attempt to integrate them into Russian culture.
autocracy in practice, alexander II reforms
introduced a variety of reforms that introduced wholesale changes to Russia’s system. Emancipation freed the serfs, legal reforms gave people more rights, education reforms gave people more access to ideas. Yet, none of Alexander II’s proposals limited the authority of the Tsar
autocracy in practice, alexander III manifesto on unshakable autocracy 1881
The Manifesto, published shortly after Alexander II’s assassination pledged that Alexander III would uphold the Three Pillars and would not introduce reforms.
autocracy in practice, Nicholas II senseless dreams speech
in 1895, delivered what has become known as the ‘Senseless Dreams Speech’. Addressing leaders of local government, Nicholas stated that those dreaming of democratic reform in Russia had ‘senseless dreams’.
Nicholas II fundamental laws 1906
- Nicholas II suffered a crisis in 1905 with the effects of the Russo-Japanese War and the popular spontaneous revolution that broke out. After he had regained control, Nicholas decided to introduce the Fundamental Laws of 1906 establishing that the Tsar continued to have ultimate authority, despite the introduction of the Duma [Parliament].
communists and marxism
The communist’s justification for their rule was entirely different from the Tsars. The Communist dictatorship stemmed from the philosophical writings of Karl Marx in the nineteenth century. His ideas inspired revolutionary opponents to Tsarism.
system of class conflict, key principle of marxism
History was a scientific process which evolves through a system of class conflict. In each stage of History there is a ruling class who control the ‘means of production’ and a subordinate class who ‘work’ the means of production and are exploited an oppressed. Eventually, these competing classes would have different interests and one would overthrow the other.
anti capitalism as a Marxism key principle
Marx believed that the working class [sometimes called proletariat] never received their just rewards in a capitalist system. Because of ownership and profit incentives, the capitalist classes tried to maximise their returns by keeping wages low. As a result, the working class were exploited.
economic determinism, Marxism key principles
Economic determinism refers to the relationship between the economy and the political/social structure of a society. Essentially, it maintains that the economy of a society determines the social/political structure of a society.
superstructure Marxism key principles
The notion that everything in society is determined by a ruling elite – in this case the capitalist classes. According to Marxists, capitalists control our ideas through various institutions. For instance, religion acts as the ‘opium of the masses’; laws protect private property; the political system ensures capitalists keep power.
false class consciousness, Marxism key principles
The consequence of the superstructure is that the working class develop false class consciousness – the notion that they are not aware of the exploitation they are suffering. Workers’ sense of their own exploitation is dulled by the superstructure.
importance of revolution Marxism key principles
Since the economic base determines the superstructure, real change could not be brought about by reform. Only revolution could bring about change by transforming the economic base
marx theory of history/ the inevitability of communism
. Karl Marx believed the History of all human societies in the History of class conflict. As the economy of a society changes, a new class is created and eventually that class demands political power. Likewise, Marx believed Capitalism contained the seeds of its own destruction. The inherent inequalities built into a capitalist system, according to Marx, would inevitably lead to a class-conscious working class which unites and overthrows the capitalist classes.
what is marxism-leninism
Lenin was a firm believer in Marxist theories, but he made a valuable contribution to the development of the ideas in his own right. Lenin’s main contribution to Marxism was an analysis of how it could be implemented in practice and how Marxist groups could establish achieve a revolution, specifically in Russia.
Lenin believed that a post-revolutionary state must be ruthless in order to achieve the aims of Marxism. He believed that policies enacted by a post-revolutionary government were merely a means to an end.
