Estate Origins of Democracy in Russia: From Imperial Bourgeoisie to Post-Communist Middle Class

This book challenges the idea of communism as a great leveller by demonstrating how the pre-communist bourgeoisie, particularly the merchant and urban commercial strata, survived and adapted in Soviet Russia. It also shows how the middle class is often two-pronged in nature, one originating among the educated estates of feudal orders and the other fabricated as part of state-induced modernization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

A groundbreaking exploration of the historical roots of inequality, this extraordinary work challenges the notion of communism as a powerful force for social equality. Through a systematic examination of the origins of the bourgeoisie-cum-middle class in Imperial, Soviet, and post-communist contexts, the author dismantles Marxist interpretations that claim these classes emerged as a result of communism. Instead, they trace the lineage of the bourgeoisie back to Tzarist estate institutions, which categorized individuals into distinct groups such as nobility, clergy, urban merchants, and peasants. This insightful analysis reveals how the pre-communist bourgeoisie, encompassing various strata including merchants, urban commercial elites, high-human capital aristocracy, and clergy, managed to survive and adapt in the Soviet Union.

Under both Tzarism and communism, the estate system fostered the development of an educated, autonomous bourgeoisie and professional class, alongside a vibrant oppositional public sphere. However, it also left behind enduring social divisions that continue to hinder democratic consensus. Furthermore, this book sheds light on the complex nature of the middle class, revealing that it often manifests as two distinct segments: one originating from the educated estates of feudal orders and the other as a product of state-induced modernization.

This groundbreaking work not only challenges prevailing narratives but also offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of social inequality and the historical forces that have shaped it. It is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the origins and consequences of economic and social systems.

Weight: 842g
Dimension: 161 x 237 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316512678