Tsarist bureaucracy
The Tsarist bureaucracy, alongside the
Russian-speakers referred to bureaucrats as chinovniki (Russian: чиновники) because of the rank or chin (Russian: чин) which they held.[2] Contrary to popular imagination, the Russian Empire was an under-governed country compared to the rest of Europe.
Country | Bureaucrats per 1,000 people in 1900 |
---|---|
Russia | 4 |
Britain | 7.3 |
Germany | 12.6 |
France | 17.6 |
In 1718 Tsar Peter the Great investigated why the ex-Swedish province of Livonia was so orderly.[3] He discovered that the Swedes had spent as much on administering Livonia (300 times smaller than his own realm) as he spent on the entire Russian bureaucracy. He was forced to dismantle the province's government.
Peter tried to pay his officials in money instead of letting them live off the land (a practice banned in 1714) and by bribery. In practice he only paid the Moscow and
In 1722 Peter introduced the system of the
Catherine changed the
Originally, achieving rank eight brought hereditary nobility. This was changed to rank five in 1845, and to rank four after 1856. The changes aimed to stop the dilution of the existing nobility with new careerists.[4]: 125
References
- ^ "The Tsarist regime, Background, The Russian Revolution, SOSE: History Year 9, NSW | Online Education Home Schooling Skwirk Australia". www.skwirk.com. Red Apple Education Ltd. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
As many countries in Europe industrialised their economy and liberalised their political structure, Russia was bound by the conservative nature of the Tsarist regime. The economic, social and political tensions that emerged in the late 19th century led to revolution in the 20th century.
- ^ "Definition of CHINOVNIK". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
- ^ Orlando Figes, A People's Tragedy, page 46
- ^ a b c d Richard Pipes, Russia under the old regime