Open AccessZemstvo Service as the Start of a Public and Political Career (The Example of Representatives of Neo-Populist Parties)
Author(s) -
O. Protasova,
И. Г. Пирожкова
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pravo: istoriâ i sovremennostʹ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2588-0012
DOI - 10.17277/pravo.2020.04.pp.017-032
Subject(s) - peasant , ideology , politics , political science , work (physics) , public relations , population , public administration , sociology , law , mechanical engineering , demography , engineering
Using the examples of biographies of some well-known representatives of the populist parties (socialist-revolutionaries and popular socialists), for the first time, it is shown how the work at zemstvo helped future politicians to determine their ideological orientation, gave practical knowledge of the needs of common people, provided insights into their lifestyle and improved communication skills with the peasant population. The significance of zemstvos as early prototypes of modern civil society institutions and a kind of “school of activism” of public policy actors during the Russian revolutions (1905-1917) is discussed. It is concluded that, owing to the understanding of the specifics of life and the mentality of the “lower classes”, the experience gained by the populists during their work in the zemstvos contributed to the successful development of their further socio-political career.