Economic Problems of Russia on the Eve of the Events of February 1917 on the Pages of the Newspaper “Rech”

Abstract

Introduction. The history of periodicals in Russia has a rather long period – from the beginning of the 18th century. This story had its good and bad periods, but the demand for newspapers and magazines has always been high. Through publications in the press, one can trace the issues and problems that were discussed in society in society on a particular day and year. It is not without reason that the famous philosopher A. Schopenhauer noted: “Newspapers are the second hands of history”. 1917 is the cornerstone of the history of the Russian state, which divided it into “before” and “after”. Among the reasons that led to the February Revolution of 1917 are the economic problems that existed in the state before entering the First World War and aggravated and supplemented after August 1914: an archaic tax system, monopolization of the economy, a reduction in the number of workers in the countryside and the city, shortage of goods. These issues could not be covered in the periodical press. The materials on the situation in the economic sphere published in the liberal newspaper “Rech” arose the interest. Besides the newspaper was a kind of mouthpiece for the Cadet Party. The purpose of the article is to analyze the published material on the problems of the Russian economy on the eve of the February Revolution in order to clarify the understanding of the situation in the country by the Cadets. Materials and Methods. Certain goals were solved using general scientific, idiographic (description of the history of the issue), problem-analytical (consideration of the situation in Russia on the eve of February 1917 through the problems of the economy), synchronous (allowing to establish links between various phenomena in the economic sphere). Results. The economic issues discussed in the daily printed publication were varied: from possible personnel changes and military loans to reforms of taxation and the economic situation in the country. Discussion and Conclusion. Considering the various problems of the country, including economic ones, the staff of the liberal newspaper “Rech” did not see signs of cardinal changes in the country and the impending revolution. These events were not reflected in the materials of the newspaper.