The Experience of the “Muravyov System” in the Domestic Politics of Russia at the End of the 19th – Beginning of the 20th Centuries

Abstract

The article examines the issue of the “Muravyov system” (the political course of the Governor- General of the North-Western region M.N. Muravyov-Vilensky, 1863–1865) and its infl uence on the internal policy of the Russian Empire in the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries. The author comes to the conclusion that the basic principles of Muravyov-Vilensky were later implemented at the all-Russian level. It was planned to combine anti-crisis repressive (administrative and police) measures with certain reforms. The reforms were intended to gain public support for government policy as only on that condition they could have the desired long-term effect. The policy of Muravyov-Vilensky was supported by the progressive bureaucracy, that developed the course of the Great Reforms of Emperor Alexander II, – N.A. Milyutin, Minister of Internal Affairs M.T. Loris-Melikov (1880–1881) and Prime Minister P.A. Stolypin (1906–1911). All of them also combined in their policy certain measures of revolutionary forces suppression with reform projects.