DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2019.6.28400

Abstract: The subject of this research is the relatively unknown episode of the First Russian Revolution (1905-1907): hosting a delegation of Zemstvo Congress on June 6, 1905. The authors thoroughly examine this event (background, course, and results), determine the development trends in relations between the government and society as of May-June 1905, note the compromises made by both parties towards audience alongside the lost opportunities discovered by this audience. The article is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity and systematicity; methodology contains the historical-genetic methods, archival materials, memoires, and press reports. Using the example of a particular event, the authors determine the trends characteristic to the First Russian Revolution throughout. Receiving the Zemstvo delegation by the emperor on June 6, 1905 has been previously viewed in the general chronology of relations between the government and society, development of Zemstvo movements and political activity of participants of the convention. The focus of this research is the event itself: description of its sociopolitical context, background, details of convention, speeches of the participants, public response, and its consequences. Both parties had to make concessions in order for this imperial unprecedented event to take place. The chains of mutual micro-concessions and compromises lead to the convention that could mark the beginning of cooperation between the government and Zemstvo, but turned as lost opportunities for the emperor and the opposition for reasons attributable to both parties. Leaning on a particular episode, the authors emphasize the specificity of the First Russian Revolution in gradual approach to reforms and sustainable public order as a characteristic of arranged compromises.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2019.2.28672

Abstract: The research subject of this article is the issues behind the organization and technical provisions of the award institutions of various White Guard armies during the Civil War in Russia. The authors analyze the problems of administrative, production-technical and personnel nature that appeared during the development and production of award groups belonging to various White Guard formations and governments. Additionally, the approaches and possibilities of "whites" and "reds" in forming award systems are compared. The authors examine the supply channels of White Guard units and divisions of award insignia and raw materials for their production, and distinguish the specific features of the White Guard award system. The article is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, systematics, and the methodological basis of this research is the historical-genetic method. The multilateral analysis of the many disparate objects (awards) allowed the authors to draw general conclusions about the specific problems and particularities in the White Guard award system and to highlight the elements of continuity and novelty in this system. The novelty of this study lies in the abandonment of the traditional individual-descriptive approach to award systems and the identification of common issues and approaches in White Guard governments regarding their award systems, with the emphasis being placed on organizational and production-technical difficulties. The authors point to various means of organizing the production of awards (pre-revolutionary reserves, centralized command orders, personal initiatives of unit commanders, placing orders abroad, etc.) and sources of raw materials (melting tsarist awards, confiscations of jeweler and church goods, gold reserves, etc.). The common problems of various White Movement branches were reflected in their award system: lack of a unified system, limited raw materials and production capabilities, drop in quality. It was precisely their attempts to create an award system with a limited set of resources that made the White Guard award system a unique phenomenon.