Conspiracy and revolutionary dictatorship in the ideology of Russian Populism, 1861-1881

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Pamela Pfaff (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Revolutionary conspiracies, abortive and successful, have stirred man's mind since the beginnings of governments. Theorizing on the nature of political dictatorship goes back at least to Plato. It is the ideological linking of these two activities—the plot of a "revolutionary" party to overthrow an existing government, and the establishment of a "dictatorship" by that party in the aftermath of the revolution--, within the framework of the Revolutionary Populist movement in Russia in the 1860's and 1870's that constitutes the thesis of this paper. The French Revolution, with its Jacobin Terror (1793-4) and the "Conspiracy of Equals" of Gracchus Babeuf (1796), offers the most convenient starting point for modern historical research into revolutionary dictatorships and secret society activity. It is conclusively established by the writings of Russian revolutionary figures that the revolutionary events in Prance in the 1790’s, 1830's, and 1840’s share priority with the Russian peasant rebellions of Stenka Razin (l670-1) and Emelyan Pugachev (1773-5) in the influence exerted upon the young radicals of nineteenth century Russia.1

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Language: English
Date: 1965

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