Introduction

Abstract

This study is concerned with the problem of political participation in pre-revolutionary Russia. It is generally known that the institutions which help in forming public opinion and in balancing the interests of divergent social forces found entry into the political life of the Russian Empire only at a late date — hardly before the beginning of the 20th century — and then only partially and with hesitation. As a result of delayed industrialization, growing social tensions had led to an acute problem of political participation by broader strata of the population. During the 19th century, however, the ‘art of associating’ had lagged behind the demands for participation. These had to assert themselves against the political system of autocracy which, in the interest of self-preservation, tried to suppress this problem by means of bureaucratic regimentation and police supervision. It was only the 1905 revolution which finally forced the Tsar to guarantee certain civil rights and to summon a parliament. With the opening of the First Duma in April 1906, Russia seemed intent on following the path of her Western neighbours, via constitutional monarchy to parliamentary democratic solutions to the problem of political participation.

Parmi les lois qui régissent les sociétés humaines, il y en a une qui semble plus précise et plus claire que toutes les autres. Pour que les hommes restent civilisés ou le deviennent, il faut que parmi eux Fart de s’associer se développe et se perfectionne dans le même rapport que l’égalité des conditions s’accroît.

Alexis de Tocqueville