DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2018.1.23762

Abstract: This article analyzes the geopolitical situation of the middle of the XIX century, when the Central Asian question began to hold an independent place in the Eastern direction of Russian geopolitics. It is emphasized that continued importance of this vector is expanding the boundaries of the Empire was determined not as much by the interests of industrial and trade development, but the need for sustainable impact upon the states of the Asian Region. The role of the army is underlined as a military and political guarantor and administrative personnel base of advancing the prestige of the Russian state in relation to polyethnic feudal principalities and khanates of the region. The author argues the position that in the management of Turkestan used the available experience in operation of the administrative systems aimed at organization of compound society in the Caucasus. Attention is focused on the broader competence of the governor-general of the region already at the initial period of integration than among the acting in accordance with the general rule regional governors, as well as in making the more independent decisions directly on the spot and lesser reliance on the center. The author highlights the trends of integration and unification in the administrative-regulatory system with the adoption of the Provisional Statute on Administration in Turkestan Region in 1886, which established the fundamental principles of justice, land tenure and land use systems, taxation, political and administrative structure. The main conclusion consists in the fact at the beginning of the XX century the administration retains its form; the modernization of administrative system in the region on the background of the need for reform of the overall provincial structure of the Russian Empire did not receive the essential resources.

DOI: 10.7256/2409-868X.2015.6.16182

Abstract: The author examines the reformation of the voivode-mandatory administration of Siberia and focuses his attention on the combination of the defining factors, first and foremost the colonizational character   of the territory, traditionally more expanded competency of the local government officials, conduction of the diplomatic relations with the bordering states, absence of noble landownership, developed self-governance among the migrants, etc. Namely the peculiarities of the region created such regional institutions and centers of power that could put the local society and administration above the supreme authority. The author underlines that the reforms of the early XVIII century in Siberia were conducted considering the specificity of the region, and that resulted in the deviation from the unified governorate administration in the empire.  An example of such deviation from the rational principles of the empire-building became the restoration in the late 1720’s of the Siberian order, but this measure did not pan out, because besides the order, the All-Siberian affairs were under the competency of the Senate, collegiums, Siberian governor, and the specialized financial and departmental metallurgical administration. With regards to Siberia, during the period of 1710-1782, there were “Special orders” for the governors, developed by taking into account the geographical, economic, and socio-political specificity of the region.  

DOI: 10.7256/2305-9699.2013.10.9767

Abstract: The article includes analysis of stages, vectors and contents of the development of the Empire administrative institution in the period since XVIII till early XIX century. The author singles out the tendencies: unification, centralization, bureaucratization, autonomous functioning in some regions within territorial and branch-related implementation levels.  The author then makes a conclusion on practical consideration of existing territorial and legislative statuses of the regions prior to their annexing to the Russian Empire. And it is only in the epoch of Catherine the II that the traditional measures - centralization and central concentration of government - are eased, however, the direction towards support of absolutist state remains. The author evaluates Ministry Departments, which became independent central government bodies in early XIX century as being overly centralized and making government overly official and bureaucratic.  As a result, the lack of clarity in competence of government institutions, as well as the right of Governors General and Governors to address the Monarch directly, lead to misalignment in the functioning of the state mechanism.