Problems of the history of Russian liberalism (1907-1914) in the works of contemporary Anglo-American researchers

The article presents the interpretation of the history of Russian liberalism in the period from the end of the First Russian Revolution to the First World War by modern Anglo-American historians. The article analyzes the views of American and British scientists (R. McKean, P. Waldron, R. Bartlett, M. Stockdale, A. Korros, M. Conroy, A. Ascher, F. Wcislo, R. Pipes, J. West, A. Haimson, etc.) on the problems of political ideals and activities of the Russian liberal parties (Kadets, Octobrists and Progressists) in the "Duma monarchy" period. These problems touch such matters as the relationship between Russian liberals and the government, their relationship with Prime Minister P.A. Stolypin, evolution of the political line of Russian liberals. The issue under research is also assessment given by the Anglo-American historians to political activities of the leaders of the Russian liberals - P.N. Milyukov, A.I. Guchkov, P.P. Ryabushinsky. The article shows that over the past two decades, despite the crisis in the western Russian Studies, Anglo-American historiography has worked a considerable amount of material on the history of Russian liberalism during the "Duma monarchy" period. The opinions expressed by the modern historians are different. The scientists belonging to the liberal direction (such as S. Galai, J. Frankel and others) note some progress in the development of constitutional monarchy in Russia in 1907-1914, while other scholars (R. McKean, P. Waldron, R. Bartlett) consider the prospects for peaceful development of Russia after 1907 as illusive and write about the weakness of social support for Russian liberalism, predominance of the nobility in governance, gap between the interests of upper and lower classes of society, the legal restrictions of the State Duma. Much attention is paid by contemporary researchers to the work of the Russian liberals in the State Duma in 1907-1914. Here the Anglo-American scientists express different opinions too. If, for example, M. Stockdale describes Kadets' Duma tactics as moderate, P. Waldron emphasizes that Kadets continued their opposition activities during the period of "Duma monarchy". The main goal of Octobrists after "The Third of June Coup" was an attempt to implement the constitutional monarchy model within the existing political regime. However, for various reasons, the opposition of Octobrists grew. The Octobrists began to confront with the ruling spheres. "The Western Zemstvo Crisis" in 1911 exacerbated differences in the camp of Octobrists. These differences largely foreran the split of their Duma faction in 1913 (see the works of P. Waldron, A. Ascher, M. Conroy, S. Galai, etc.). Progressism as a whole is estimated as a rather amorphous movement which lacked both connectivity program and a clear structure. The emergence of this particular bourgeois-liberal current and the further formation of the Pogressist party, according to L. Haimson, was rooted in the social nature of the "Third of June System". Progressists' attempt to build a "Constitutional Center" in the IV Duma was not justified. Their desperate initiatives such as attempts to revive contacts with the labor movement, creating "Information Committee" (1914), also failed (R. Thurston, J. West).

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