Alexander II and the Modernization of Russia, by W.E. Mosse

[p019] Pseudo-Liberal Tsar Alexander II and the Modernization of Russia. By W. E. Mosse. Yourself History’ Library, English Universities’ Mr. Mosse, scnior lecturer in East European histo Ty at Glasgow University, has made a valuable contribution to the well-known, rather uneven ‘Teach Yourself His- tory’ series. THis subject is the period of reforms from above which opened in Russia as a result of the humilia- ting defeat of the Tsardom in the Crimean War—the so-called emanci- b

[p020] 1960 ion in utes an on can 1 turns Hegel rection ith its stand- The »phical a this Intyre (tellec- rology effect om as tend- 1 that 2dom’ adivi- n the ut to 3 on atyre rage, kull. ween our : far s of ome fac- vain who uch AUTUMN BOOKS pation of the serfs, a new system of law courts and local self-government and so on. This period ended with the assassination of the ‘Tsar Libera- tor’ in 1881. As the author puts it, ‘a pseudo- liberal autocrat is an unhappy hy- brid unlikely to achieve political success. . As soon as Alexander lifted the tight lid of repression, the compressed steam began to escape with powerful effect. Conditions developed enough to frighten even a ruler less naturally insecure than Alexander. Not for nothing did the great Tocqueville observe that the most dangerous moment for a bad government usually comes when it begins to reform itself.’ Here is a little book that can be thoroughly recommended to those who wish to begin studying the background to present-day Russia. B.P.