Zusammenfassung der Ressource
ALEXANDER II REFORMS: LOCAL
GOVERNMENT (1864 - 1870)
- The
'ZEMSTVA'
- Government
introduced
PROVINCIAL and
DISTRICT councils.
- *1864
- Assemblies/Councils
were to be ELECTED by
nobles, town dwellers,
the Church and
peasants.
- System of separate
ELECTORAL COLLEGES -
peasants, nobles, the Church
and townspeople - to make up
the voting procedure.
- - HOWEVER... the
arrangement of
thesystem was rigged to
allow the NOBILITY to
DOMINATE!
- - Despite SOME peasant
representation, these 'people
assemblies' typically attracted
doctors, lawyers, teachers and
scientists; who, disappointingly,
became more interested in
criticising and debating about the
government.
- - Electoral system
favoured the
NOBILITY!
- 40% members
of DISTRICT
zemstva
- >70%
members of
PROVINCIAL
zemstva.
- Provinces where
RUSSIANS formed the
MAJORITY of the
POPULATION and
RULING ELITE.
- (1864 = 19
provinces, with
Zemstva)
- (1914 = 37
provinces, with
Zemstva)
- - NOT massively widespread;
only introduced to a LIMITED
number of provinces and SLOW
to take form; as there were
ONLY 70 PROVINCES in total!
- Elected for
3 years.
- Each Zemstva
selected a
GOVERNING
BOARD from
their members.
- RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE
'ZEMSTVA'
- Health
- + HOSPITALS built
carried lasting
benefits!
- Education.
- Road and
bridge
maintenance
- + ROADS built
carried lasting
benefits!
- Local
economic
affairs.
- Played an increasingly
important role in LOCAL
AREAS!
- (1870) Extended to
newly elected
'DUMAS' (TOWN
COUNCILS).
- POSITIVES
- + Brought
IMPROVEMENTS to
many aspects of LOCAL
AREAS!
- Roads.
- Health
facilities.
- Street
lighting.
- Drainage
systems.
- Water
supplies.
- Primary
schools.
- + Brought a
VALUABLE
addition to LOCAL
government!
- + Those in charge of the councils
gained POLITICAL EXPERIENCE in
managing affairs; many wishing to
take this through to a NATIONAL
LEVEL!
- Members of the THIRD ELEMENT
within the Zemstva developed
enough confidence to issue demands
for SOCIAL REFORM and BETTER
LIVING CONDITIONS!
- "Believed themselves to
constitute a kind of
'alternative establishment,'
more truly representative of
the Russian nation and more
genuinely able to serve it
than the regime was."
- Geoffrey
Hosking
- British
Historian.
- WEAKNESSES/LIMITATIONS
- - RESTRICTIONS were
placed on their powers
of TAXATION; had
trouble RAISING TAXES!
- - DOMINATED by the NOBILITY;
many did NOT take their
responsibilities seriously, or took
ADVANTAGE of the opportunity to
operate affairs in their OWN
INTERESTS!
- The PEASANTS were
discouraged by the
NOBILITY, and
unfortunately often did
NOT really participate in
local affairs.
- - PEASANTS resented
paying the Zemstvo TAX!
- - MIXED results! Some more
enterprising Zemstva, but
equally also some lazier,
indolent leadership.
- Their POWER was STRICTLY
LIMITED, and so decisions were
NOT ABSOLUTE; the nobility and
local Marshalls were able to veto
their ideas.