Mikhail M. Speransky and his Constitutional Project

Abstract

Mikhail M. Speransky was a versatile person, who knew law, politics, philosophy, mathematics, physics, eloquence. Even Napoleon was impressed by the sharpness of the mind of the Russian political figure. The statesman clearly understood the needs of the society of the 19th century, realized what and how it was necessary to bring the Russian Empire into the state system in order to improve it. Indeed, a detailed analysis of the constitutional project of the great reformer is of great importance for the history of Russia. Thus, research on this topic remains relevant now. Mikhail M. Speransky is a key figure who found himself at the junction of two eternally opposing movements of socio-political thought, namely: conservatism and liberalism. The reformer was a supporter of liberal transformations, but for their successful implementation it was necessary to have a society, albeit conservative, but internally ready for new trends in politics, state and law. Why did a statesman with radical views fail to fully implement his ambitious plans? Is his large-scale plan only a ghostly illusion? The paper examines the main directions of the liberal policy of Mikhail M. Speransky in the process of creating and trying to implement a constitutional project, analyzes objective and subjective socio-historical factors that influenced the possibility of the actual implementation of the ideas of an astute and wise state and legal figure. Special attention is also paid to the significance of the personality of Mikhail Mikhailovich — a reformer with radical views — in the history of our country. Undoubtedly, Mikhail M. Speransky formulated a large number of liberal postulates governing the creation of a rule of law. Echoes of some of his ideas can be seen in modern concepts and principles implemented in Russia.