Counteraction to propaganda activities of revolutionary organizations in the Russian Empire at the turn of the XIX–XX centuries

Abstract

Introduction. Propaganda direction in the activities of Russian political organizations at the turn of the XIX–XX centuries played an important role in their struggle against the authorities and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Russian socio-political system. Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of this study is the historical-genetic method, as well as the principles of historicism and micro-history. Results. The main task of the study is to analyze the main activities of the authorities in the fight against anti-government propaganda carried out by opposition political organizations in the period under review. On the example of circulars and orders of local and Central authorities the review of the main directions of activity of revolutionary political organizations and counteraction to them by the provincial authorities and police are given. The growth of the propaganda activities of the revolutionary forces is noted in the early twentieth century, which was primarily due to the emergence of domestic centers for the dissemination of propaganda materials. There is also a complication of the functional, and as a consequence, the records of the provincial authorities in opposition to anti-government propaganda. Discussion and Conclusions. This study allows us to divide the fight against anti-government propaganda into two periods: the predominance of foreign propaganda centers and the predominance of local centers of agitation and propaganda. The coordination of the activity of the provincial civil authorities, the Police Department and Postal and Telegraph officials to prevent the propaganda activities of revolutionary organizations is noted. However, it is concluded that despite the measures taken, the authorities were unable to stop the flow of printed propaganda products, as the country did not solve the objective problems that created a fertile ground for the formation of the revolutionary movement in the Russian Empire.