Siberian reforms of 1822 by Speransky as a manifestation of the principles of imperial regionalism

The authors of the article believe that in the history of the Russian Empire Siberian reforms of 1822 by M.M. Speransky were the first experience of working out regulations based on geographical, natural and climate factors, ethnic, confessional and foreign policy characteristics of the region. For three years Speransky and his assistants drafted 10 legislative proposals known as the Siberian reforms of 1822. The proposals were composed of 4019 paragraphs and they were outstood by analysis that was very extensive for its time. The authors believe that the Siberian Regulations of 1822 were characterized by pragmatism and tolerance. They meant to correlate the bordering territories with the historical center of the Empire, to ensure internal and external security, social stability on the territory of the Empire. Asiatic Russia was divided into two governorate-generals: West-Siberian with the center in Tobolsk, and East-Siberian with the center in Irkutsk. West-Siberian Governorate-General included Tobolsk and Tomsk Guberniyas, Omsk Oblast. East-Siberian Governorate-General included Irkutsk, the newly formed Yeniseisk Guberniyas, Yakutsk Oblast, Okhotsk and Kamchatka Coastal Administration, Troitskosavsk Border Service Administration. The governorates were divided into districts, and districts were divided into volosts and non-Russian municipal councils. The authors believe that an essential feature of the governor-general administration in Siberia was a deliberative body affiliated with the territorial administration. The chairman of the Council of the Central Administration was the governor-general. The Council consisted of three members from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance, and three members as referendaries appointed by the governor-general. Revisions and reforms by Speransky related to the indigenous people of the area resulted in drafting the Regulations on the Governance of Non-Russians, according to which the native peoples were divided into "settled", "nomadic" and "wandering" groups. The division aimed to make the "nomadic and wandering" peoples the "settled" ones. The Regulations of 1822 stipulated that all Non-Russians as the Empire subjects were to be assigned land. The principle of free private trade with Siberian Non-Russians was introduced. By encouraging the middle class Speransky tried to introduce taxation of the indigenous people. In matters of religion, the Regulations were based on the approach of religious tolerance. The Regulations enabled indigenous people, subjected to taxation, to send their children to state schools and establish local specialized schools. The authors come to a conclusion that the administrative reforms by Speransky made alterations to the marginal policy of the autocratic government. The authors of the article believe it was the first attempt to develop a concept of administration in Siberia. Therefore, the Siberian reforms were an integral part of the reorganization of governance of national bordering territories and represented the Asiatic direction in the administration policy of the Empire.

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