Zemstvo Self-government Research Articles

Zemstvo Self-Government in Eastern Siberia

Zemstvo Self-Government in Eastern Siberia

Земства и кооперация Ставропольской губернии в годы Первой мировой войны

Introduction. In the context of the outbreak of the First World War and the involvement of Russia in military conflicts, the authorities are looking for additional sources of solving the problems that have arisen. The government involved local governments in carrying out state activities. Why did they even expand the competence of the zemstvo? The authorities began to involve cooperation in solving socio-economic problems. The experience of interaction between zemstvo and cooperation is of interest. Мaterials and Methods. The study was prepared on the basis of an integrated approach, which made it possible, based on a combination of information from various sources, to analyze the activities of zemstvos and cooperative associations during the First World War. The application of the principles of historicism, objectivity, and comprehensiveness made it possible to analyze the problem under study, including in the regional aspect. The sources involved in the analysis were both published sources and previously unstudied archival documents, statistical materials, periodicals on the problems and history of the activities of local governments and the history of cooperative associations. Analysis. The article examines the activities of zemstvo selfgovernment and cooperation of the Stavropol province during the First World War. The directions of work of zemstvos and cooperative associations are described. The process of development of the cooperative movement in the period under study is examined, the possibilities of cooperation in solving the problems of introducing management methods, providing the population with consumer goods, and reducing the level of social tension are analyzed. Results. The study made a reasonable conclusion that during the First World War, zemstvo institutions and cooperative associations of the Stavropol province carried out fruitful activities and contributed to solving the most difficult wartime problems. Cooperators and zemstvos contributed to solving the problems of providing the population with essential goods, supplying the army, and providing assistance to the families of front-line soldiers. During the war, cooperative associations in the region managed to strengthen their positions, significantly expanding the network of their organizations.

Peculiarities of the functioning of zemstvo institutions in the second half of the 19th century. in the opinion of Ilya Shrag (on the example of Chernihiv province)

The article reveals the views of prominent Ukrainian jurist and socio-political activist Ilya Shrag on the peculiarities of zemstvo self-government in Ukraine during the implementation of the zemstvo reform of 1864 and during the period of counter-reforms that were introduced in the state in the 1890s.

The Performance of Religious Rites in the Pereyaslavsk County Hospital, Alms, Prisons in the Second Half of the 19th - at the Beginning of the 20th Century

The purpose of the publication is to highlight the process of performing religious rites in the Pereyaslav Zemstvo Hospital, the Pereyaslav County Almshouse, and the Pereyaslav Prison Castle in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries in the context of the development of the Zemstvo self-government in Ukraine and the consequences of the social and economic reforms of the imperial era. The relevance of the research was determined by the lack of complex scientific works devoted to this problem. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time this topic has become the object of an independent, comprehensive study. Interest in the performance of religious rites in the Zemstvo institutions of the city of Pereyaslava is caused by their role in the legislative and religious spheres. The importance of the problem and its poor study determine the relevance of the research. The main source for him were the materials of the resolutions and reports of the Pereyaslav district zemstvo assemblies for the period of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. The methodological basis of the work is the combined application of general scientific principles of historicism, objectivity, and systematicity. The information introduced into scientific circulation is important for deepening further research into the history of everyday life of the population of Pereyaslav and Pereyaslav District. It was revealed that on the basis of the provisions of the Zemstvo reforms of the 60s of the 18th century and according to the church charter, clergymen of the parishes of the city of Pereyaslav and the county were obliged to perform a wide variety of religious rites for the faithful, including the performance of religious rites (confession, communion, repentance, anointing, synod, etc.) at Pereyaslav Zemstvo Hospital, Pereyaslav County Almshouse, Pereyaslav Prison Castle. It was established that for the sick and dying, this procedure ("sacrament of healing the soul and body") had great moral power, as it gave spiritual healing, even if physical recovery did not accompany it. It is shown that for single and poor patients of the Pereyaslav Zemstvo Hospital, the performance of the Holy Sacraments was free of charge.

Земская традиция как особо ценное нематериальное культурное наследие Русского Севера (сакральная география и геософия севернорусского мiра)

The article presents the scientific results obtained during the study of the zemstvo self-government tradition in the Russian North. This tradition is considered as a particularly valuable intangible cultural heritage. Its image-symbolical vocabulary (thesaurus) could be used in development of a regional strategy and local projects for the spatial development of the northern macroregion. The idea-concept of “zemstvo” (“mir”) holds a unique position within the conceptual sphere of the Russian North’ geocultural space. It is an ideal, canonical form of religious and sociocultural land management of Pomorye, which appears as reserved island-archipelago covered by web of autonomous, autocratical communities. The natural and cultural landscape of the Northern Russian mir is replete with “conciliar” and “sophian” semantics and symbolics of development, specialness, selfness, freedom, unitotality, triality, rhythmicity, gracefulness, wisdom. The cultural and semiotic mechanisms of the Slavic-Russian development of the lands and waters of the midnight Edge of the World are studied. Sacred geography and geosophy of “verhovskiy” and “nizovskiy” colonization streams of the North and the Arctic regions are revealed. Special attention is paid to the presentation of the experience and practices of preserving and adapting the sacred heritage associated with land management and consecration of territories and water areas of Pomorye (Kenozerskiy National Park, Naryan-Mar and Mezen Diocese, the project “Common Cause. Revival of Wooden Temples of the North”).

Челобитные пермичей 1605–1608 гг. как источник по истории центрального и местного управления Московского государства (по материалам Соликамского архива)

Introduction. The article examines the issues of the functioning of central and local government in the Muscovite state at the beginning of the 17th century, mainly during the reign of V.I. Shuisky. The study was carried out on the example of Great Perm – a region that was remote from the main military events of the Time of Troubles and had a developed system of zemstvo self-government. Methods and materials. It is based on 44 petitions of Perm. Information about them was reconstructed by the method of mutual correspondence of documents according to references in other documents of office work of the Perm order hut. This is fund No. 122 “Acts of Solikamsk” of the Archives of the Saint Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Analysis. The petitions are divided into 3 groups according to their origin: laymen, officials and private individuals. Each document is given titles according to their self-designations and content. These are notification, claim, дж petitions. The circumstances of the cases in which the petitions were filed are revealed, authorship is established (on whose behalf the document came), as well as the outcome of the cases. Results. The authors of the petitions were people from different social groups: peasants, townspeople, zemstvo elders and kissers, customs deacons, yasak voguls, coachmen, merchants, priests, Cossacks or residents of Perm without indicating social status. 29 petitions were submitted to Moscow in the Nizhny Novgorod and Novgorod chetvertnoy prikaz, 15 were considered in Great Perm. For most issues, the petitioner first received a decree in Moscow, and then brought a ready-made solution for execution to Great Perm. Zemsky worlds participated in the investigation of robberies, thefts and interpersonal conflicts, but as a result, the clerks had to write a formal reply to Moscow. Thus, at the beginning of the 17th century, the Muscovite state sought to implement a model of strict centralization of power through control by the prikazes of Moscow.

ZEMSTVO REFORM IN RUSSIA: HISTORICAL AND LEGAL CONTEXT

The article deals with the issues of legal regulation of zemstvo self-government in the second half of the 19th century on the basis of valid acts of the Russian empire. Urgency of addressing this theme is determined by the next stage of municipal reform in Russia, conditioned by the inclusion of local self-government and state administration into unified system of public power organization by the Constitution of Russian Federation of 1993 and by the necessity of generalization of historical experience for providing legislative bodies of power with recommendations on application of some legal constructions that haven't lost their significance after a century. The author analyzes the guidelines, decrees and regulations, which laid down the order of organization of zemstvo self-government in the Vyatka province. She describes in detail the transformations carried out in the districts that make up the present-day Udmurtia, comparing the laws of 1864 and 1890. The competence of zemstvos, order of formation, functioning and interaction of zemstvo bodies in exercising their powers are revealed in details. Special attention is paid to the legal regulation of electoral rights of different categories of the population. At the end of the article some conclusions are formulated for effective organization of public administration with zemstvo reforms in modern legal conditions.

Organization of Anti-Epidemiological Measures by Workers of Zemstvo Medicine in Russia at the end of the XIX – at the beginning of the XX century

Introduction. The bodies of zemstvo self-government, created in 1864 and gradually spreading throughout the territory of the Russian Empire, performed important social functions: the development of education, medicine, assistance in difficult circumstances (crop failure, fires), etc., and this activity was directed primarily on the peasant population. The prevention of epidemics and the provision of medical assistance in the event of their beginning were the most important areas of work of zemstvos. In the provinces, a district network of medical and paramedic points was created which constantly monitored the epidemiological situation in the villages, in a number of provinces special sanitary points were opened. The implementation of anti-epidemiological measures was carried out at the expense of the provincial zemstvo on the proposal of the governor. Special infectious barracks were opened to reduce the number of patients and for seriously ill patients during the epidemic. Employees of zemstvo hospitals carried out work in different directions: conducting explanatory conversations with the population about the observance of sanitary standards, the need for vaccinations for children, vaccinations (mainly for children), examination and prescribing treatment for patients, maintaining medical statistics. Such work yielded results: the number of epidemics and cases decreased, but it was impossible to prevent epidemiological diseases completely until 1917. Methods. The solution of the set research tasks was provided by a complex of interrelated theoretical (analysis of scientific literature, comparative analysis, comparison, generalization, systematization), empirical (study and generalization of sources) and hermeneutic methods. Results. Zemstvo medical activity from 1864 to the end of the 1870s only determined the directions of work, was inconsistent and in the field of combating epidemics was fragmented. In fact, the work was not limited to preventing epidemics but to eliminating those that had already broken out. The state did not provide special assistance to the zemstvos in this direction. Only in 1879, due to the strongest epidemic of diphtheria at the government level, “Mandatory rules on measures to prevent the development of infectious diseases” were introduced. In accordance with which, mandatory sanitary and police measures against the spread of these diseases began to be determined. Conclusion. The selfless work of zemstvo medical workers, the introduction of a system of measures to prevent diseases led to a reduction in both the number of epidemics and the number of cases, but it was impossible to eliminate the epidemics completely until 1917.

THEORETICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN THE VYATKA PROVINCE IN THE POST-REFORM PERIOD

The article deals with the organization and functioning of the zemstvo self-government in the post-reform period. The author analyzes the main scientific sources, the normative acts of the Russian Empire adopted in the 19th century, as well as the legalizations of the Governor-General of the Vyatka province. On their basis, he provides comparative data of legal norms and law enforcement practice on authorities, subjects of jurisdiction and some results of transformation, identifying problems of interaction between zemstvos and provinces in solving local economic affairs. Special attention is paid to the formation of zemstvo bodies, their electability and independence. The work reflects the main activities of the zemstvos. The indicators for zemstvo hospitals, schools, insurance, land use, and zemstvo mail are covered in detail and characterized.

Assessment of the Formation of Zemstvo Budgets in Russia at the End of the 19th– Early 20th Centuries in the Works of Contemporaries

Introduction. The idea of introducing zemstvo self-government in the Russian Empire from the very beginning divided the population into bright supporters and ardent opponents, who for decades proved their case. The process of creating zemstvos began in 1864. The state determined socially significant functions for these self-government bodies: the development of medicine, education, agronomy, veterinary medicine, road construction, etc. The problems faced by the zemstvos were big: relationships with power structures, budget deficits, and the attitude of society. You can get acquainted with the activities of the zemstvos, the difficulties in the work by studying the journals of the meetings of the zemstvo assemblies. Also, of interest is the opinion of contemporaries about these self-government bodies. The purpose of the article is to consider the mechanism of formation of zemstvo budgets through the analysis of the works of contemporaries. Materials and Methods. The set goals were solved using narrative (description of the history of the issue), historical and genetic (development of zemstvo self-government and changes in the principles of taxation), comparative (positions of A. A. Golovachev and V. N. Tverdokhlebov), systemic (analysis of the consequences of changes in local self-government) methods. Results. For more than half a century of activity of zemstvo self-government bodies, the problems have not changed much. Both in the initial and in the final period there were great difficulties with the formation of the budget and the designation of taxable items. Discussion and Conclusion. Land remained the main taxation item, which led to an increase in the deficit due to the overtaxation of landed property, the poverty of the main taxpayers – the peasants; a low level of taxation was observed for urban real estate, commercial and industrial enterprises, which was supported by the government.

Zemstvo Self-Government in the Yakutsk Region in 1917-1919 (Based on the Materials of the Newspaper “Yakutskiy Golos”)

Zemstvo Self-Government in the Yakutsk Region in 1917-1919 (Based on the Materials of the Newspaper “Yakutskiy Golos”)

The Smell of Factionalism: Left Opposition in the Vyatka Provincial Organization of the Bolshevik Party in 1923-1924

The activity of the Vyatka left opposition that arose during the internal party discussion in the fall of 1923 and the spring of 1924 is studied. The work is based on archival documents from the Central State Archive of Kirov Region, as well as on materials from the Vyatka Pravda party newspaper. The platform of the local opposition opposed the formation of factions but insisted on clarifying what factionalism is supposed to mean. The Left Opposition united the party community of the provincial city and adjacent working areas. Most party members initially expressed full confidence in the partys Central Committee. An analysis of archival material shows that the Vyatka opposition tried to establish a broad discussion of problems in internal party life. In the provincial center there was a party discussion club that organized heated discussions. The focus on clarifying the concepts of factions and groups reflected the desire of opposition supporters to avoid being accused of betraying the party and the cause of the revolution. Remarkably, until early January 1924 the left opposition had absolute support among party members in Vyatka. The article analyzes the Central Committees suppression of the local opposition in January - February 1924, and in particular the skillful techniques of Aron Solts and his supporters. At the final stage of the struggle, a group of conciliators arose among the members of the opposition, and contributed to the victory of the Central Committee line. The article clarifies reasons and circumstances of the defeat of the opposition, none of whose representatives openly stood in opposition to the majority of the Central Committee or called on ordinary members to protest. The authors demonstrate that the local left opposition was a situational unification of diverse forces, dissatisfied with the bureaucratization of the party, the growing dictatorship of the Central Committee, the newcomers, as well as the dominance of appointees from the Party and the Soviets. During the discussion in the organizations of the Party, the need for developing internal party democracy and a free discussion of the problems emerged, showing that there was a potential alternative to Stalinism. The main feature of the left opposition was that it formed and temporarily won the predominantly non-proletarian Vyatka, where before the 1917 revolution the zemstvo and city democratic self-government has gained roots; this is interpreted as a preservation of the demand for freedom and democracy in local society.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СТРУКТУР ГУБНОГО И ЗЕМСКОГО САМОУПРАВЛЕНИЯ НА ПРЕОДОЛЕНИЕ КРИЗИСА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО АППАРАТА, ВЫЗВАННОГО «СМУТНЫМ ВРЕМЕНЕМ»

The article is devoted to the prerequisites and the course of the formation of the systems of provincial and zemstvo self-government of the Moscow state in the second half of the XVI century. The author aims to show the leading influence of the electoral system that developed in the specified period of time not only on the stable functioning of local bodies that retained their legal capacity during the "Time of Troubles", but also on the subsequent formation of the central state apparatus and the formation of a new royal dynasty.

Features of the Zemstvo Taxation in the Great Russian and Foreign Provinces of Russia in the Second Half of the 19th сentury

Introduction. The introduction of the bodies of zemstvo self-government in the Russian Empire led to the need to form the system of zemstvo budgets with their own income items, often falling on the same objects of taxation as state taxes. Most of the income came from taxation of land (state, private and peasant). In addition, the items of income were receipts from the taxation of real estate, trade and industrial enterprises, trade documents, etc. The zemstvo extended not only to Great Russian provinces but also to foreign ones, in so doing the functions of zemstvo had their own characteristics, since it was necessary to take into account ethnic and religious characteristics in provinces with a predominance of the non-Russian population. The purpose of the article is to clarify the comparison of the main sources of income of the zemstvo budget in ethnically different regions of the Russian Empire. Materials and Methods. The solution of research problems was provided by a complex of complementary theoretical (analysis of scientific literature, comparative analysis, comparison, generalization, systematization) and empirical (study and generalization of published and archival sources, hermeneutic) methods. Results. A comparative analysis of the principles and objects of taxation between the provinces of these groups (Kursk and Ufa) showed the similarity of approaches and priority of land taxation as the simplest and covering most of the payers. Discussion and Conclusions. The principles of forming zemstvo budgets throughout the Empire were unchanged, focused on the property approach of taxation, which was rather archaic due to the introduction of income taxation in the advanced countries, as the fairer one, while in Russia the main burden of taxation still fell on the shoulders of the peasantry, and led to the deficit of the zemstvo treasury. This brings the problem of forming zemstvo budgets to a further level of research into social, political and economic history.

The Nobility of "Ukrainian Provinces" of Russian Empire in Zemstvo Self-Government (1860s - Beginning of the Twentieth Century)

The Nobility of "Ukrainian Provinces" of Russian Empire in Zemstvo Self-Government (1860s - Beginning of the Twentieth Century)

Peasants in self-government bodies in the second half of the XIX and early XX century (based on the materials of Vyatka province)

The article aims to study the problem of peasants participation in the bodies of rural, volost (parish), and Zemstvo self-government in the 18601910-ies. It uses new documents from the funds of the Vyatka Governor Office and the Vyatka Provincial Presence of the Central State Archive of the Kirov Region. The article notes the important role of the abolition of serfdom and land reform in changing the forms of peasants social activity. The author concludes that the peasants had a common approach to rural and Zemstvo elections. The composition of the population of Vyatka province also influenced the election results. The article particularly examines the territorial (zemsky) district chiefs reports, the elected officials petitions, and state that the majority of peasants perceived public service as a heavy duty that distracts from agricultural labor. Therefore, peasants preferred middle-aged candidates had a profitable farm. Such householders might not be literate, but they used their life and business experience in public service and did not harm their household. The article analyzes the composition and journals of Zemstvo assemblies and comes to the conclusion that such peasants were interested in social activities. Long-term service in various Zemstvo positions, defending their point of view during meetings of Zemstvo assemblies are evidence of this interest. The author examines archival documents and notes the patronizing attitude of territorial (zemsky) district chiefs and other local administrative officials towards the peasantry. They used constant communication and good knowledge of the peasants in organizing the elections.

Izbirateljnye prava zhenschin v praktike zemskogo samoupravleniya v Rossii vo vtoroy polovine XIX - nachale XX v.

Izbirateljnye prava zhenschin v praktike zemskogo samoupravleniya v Rossii vo vtoroy polovine XIX - nachale XX v.

ON THE LIMITS OF STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TAX POLICY OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT: THEORETICAL VIEWS OF A.I. VASILCHIKOV

The article is devoted to the analysis of A.I. Vasilchikov's theoretical views on the political traditions of the Zemstvo self-government regarding the definition of the limits of state and local authority in matters of taxation of local self-government, formed on the basis of understanding the experience of the Russian Empire in the post-reform period in the second half of the 19th century and in foreign countries (England, Prussia, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the USA). The urgency of the analysis of the theoretical approach of the researcher is conditioned by the need to improve the local self-government sphere, in order to increase the efficiency of tax provision for municipalities. According to the results of the study, A.I. Vasilchikov formed a system of views on political traditions and the limits of state and local authorities in matters of the tax policy of local self-government. In particular the important conclusion of the researcher is that separation of state and Zemstvo (local management) should be a division not in the subjects of departments, but in the limits of power between the state and Zemstvo. This principle finds its confirmation in distribution of power between the supreme and local authorities. The first establishes the law and the tax, the second, in turn, applies and executes the established law through the functioning of local institutions. It should be noted that A.I. Vasilchikov's theoretical deductions do not lose their significance in the context of their adaptive application to the process of transformation local self-government of contemporary Russia, and could be useful in the process of improving the tax policy of local selfgovernment.

The evolution of zemski obligations’ system on the territory of the Belarusian provinces (the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century)

In the article, based on the analysis of legal acts, changes in the system of zemsky obligations on the territory of the Belarusian provinces in the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century are characterized for the first time. It was noted that in the post-reform period it functioned on the basis of the 1851 Rules of the New Organization of the Zemsky Obligations, but its structure gradually included expenditures on social sphere: financing the rural-medical part, the maintenance of institutions departments’ of public charity and primary schools. The corresponding changes were fixed by the laws of 1868, 1883, 1887 and decisions approving zemsky estimates. The study made it possible to identify the main disadvantages of the existing system of zemsky obligations. They included: legislative approval of estimates for a three-year term, the impossibility of prompt redistribution of zemsky funds, bureaucratic procedures for disposing of them, long-term preparation of estimates, which was accompanied by extensive correspondence of central and local authorities. To eliminate these shortcomings, the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed to reform the existing system of zemsky obligations by introducing Zemstvo self-government on the territory of the Belarusian provinces. However, the ministry met with opposition on this issue from the two most influential dignitaries of the late 19th century: Finance Minister S. Yu. Witte and the Chief Prosecutor of the Synod K. P. Pobedonostsev. An analysis of the estimates of zemsky obligations has led to the conclusion that in the post-reform period the zemsky tax was transformed into the main source to provide the wide range of needs of the local population. At the end of 19th – the beginning of 20th century they amounted to a total of more than 3 million rubles in year. In the structure of the estimates, the share of social spending ranged from 30–40 %. On the territory of the Vitebsk, Minsk and Mogilev provinces these resources were handed over to the institutions of local economy in 1903. In the Grodno and Vilna provinces it was kept the former order of management of the zemsky obligations according to the 1851 Rules of the New Organization of the Zemsky Obligations. Based on the analysis of estimates for these regions, it was first shown the annual amount of expenditures on zemsky duties increased 1.5 times from 1.5 to 2.3 million rubles. At the same time, the share of social spending increased by 1.3 times and reached 48 % on the eve of the First World War. During the post-reform period, the system of zemsky obligations on the territory of the Belarusian provinces underwent a significant evolution. On the basis of an analysis of legal acts and estimates of zemsky duties, it was first proved that this source of local taxation has become the main financial resource for the development of various components of the social sphere in countryside.

HISTORICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF INTRODUCTION OF VOLOST ZEMSTVO BY THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT

The reform of zemstvo self-government held in 1917 by the government was meant to construct the inner basis of the state organism, covering the local life Russia having tied it into the whole. Introduction of volost (area division in Tzarist Russia) zemstvo (country council) was one of the most important zemstvo reforms in 1917. This was driven by several factors justified by the authors of the article.
 Firstly, introduction of volost zemstvo self-government was one of the most prepared and long-waited reforms for which country councils were fighting from the beginning of the XIX century. Secondly, the reform included into the system of local power multi-million peasant Russia through volost meetings and municipal councils. Thirdly, with the introduction of the lower level of zemstvo structure there appeared a well-developed and complete system of self-government covering the state life from volost till the All-Russia Zemstvo Union. Fourthly, elections to the Constituent Assemly depended on the elections to volost zemstvo as they were kind of a rehearsal and a new experience of All-Russia elections. In the long run, the creating of volost zemstvo was the basis of all other zemstvo reforms of the interim government. The fate of the democratic organs in the country depended on the success of the reforms.
 Taking into account the fact that bythe time of February Revolutionthe preparation for volost zemstvo introduction in Russia has been developing for a decade, the law on volost zemstvo was the first in the reform package of the the interim government. The introduction of volost zemstvo was considered by society not as a revolution in the system of power, but as the logical conclusion of an effectively functioning structure of local self-government.