Author Archives: noroskyj

“Any revolution which smacks of fanaticism; a violent revolution, a people’s revolution… merely destroys without creating anything new.” (pg. 246) To me, this quote is evident of a deep anxiety within the gentry and the political elite. The “Great Reforms” … Continue reading →

Catherine’s views for Russia certainly lacked continuity. Particularly troubling was her establishment of the necessity of an absolute monarchy (Dmytryshyn, p. 80), and the exclusion serfs from her Legislative Commission (Madariaga, p. 35). The latter is especially confusing, given her apparent sympathy … Continue reading →