Background to Russian politics

• What doctrine did Nicholas I make the main principle of his reign?


  Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality
• Who originally proposed the Triad of Official Nationality?


  Sergey Uvarov
• How did the Triad of Official Nationality gain public recognition?


  It was vocally supported by intellectuals
• What did critics of the Triad of Official Nationality see it as a call for?


  Russification
• What did the existence of the Triad of Official Nationality indicate about Russia's political ideology?


  It indicated a brewing transition to modernity
• How did the Triad of Official Nationality affect Russia's relationship with Western values?


  It distanced Russia from Western values like the rule of law and liberal values
• What event did Nicholas I emerge from as emperor?

  The 1825 Decembrist revolt
• What was the cause of the Decembrist revolt according to the investigation that followed?


  Disloyalty deeply rooted within the nobility
• What measures did Nicholas I take to guard against future revolts?


  He developed a state education system and complete codification of the law
• What type of government system did Nicholas I install?

  A highly regulated but ultimately inefficient system of centralization
• What positions did Sergey Uvarov hold since 1818?


  Minister of Education and President of the Russian Academy of Sciences
• What did Uvarov's ideology emphasise regarding education?

  Education should be conducted according to the Supreme intention of the Emperor
• What was Uvarov's view on the role of professors and teachers?


  They should be devoted to the throne and fatherland
• How did Uvarov aim to shape the national educational system?


  To produce skilled, professional executors of the Emperor's wishes
• What integral part of education did Uvarov try to deprive from the system?

  The analytical and critical approach to the political environment
• According to Uvarov, what were the unconditional bases of the existence of Russia?


  Orthodox religion and autocracy
• What did Narodnost signify in Uvarov's theory?

  The necessity to follow independent national traditions and fight foreign influence
• What ideas did Uvarov's theory reject?

  Western ideas such as freedom of thinking, individualism, and rationalism
• How long did Uvarov elaborate on the triad of Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality?

  16 years
• What did Uvarov achieve as an educator despite his ideology?

  He raised educational standards and established new colleges
• What was the impact of Uvarov's educational system on the Russian population?

  It became more exclusive, with less than 1% of the population able to access education
• What did Narodnost imply regarding the Russian folk's access to education?

  They had to stay away from education to preserve their pure national character
• What are the three components of Uvarov's triad?

  • Orthodoxy: Protection of the Russian Orthodox Church
  • Autocracy: Loyalty to the House of Romanov
  • Nationality: Recognition of the state-founding role of Russian nationality
• How was Narodnost translated in Uvarov's theory?

  As nationality, national spirit, or populism
• What was the fixed sequence of the triad in public instruction?

  Christians, loyal subjects, and Russians
• What was the inherent imbalance in the triad of Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality?

  It favored centralized autocracy over the church and the people
• What was the state of the Russian Orthodox Church under Nicholas I's regime?

  It was impoverished and incapable of being an independent political force
• How did the government view rival philosophies during Nicholas I's reign?

  The government remained wary of any rival philosophies, including theology
• What was the impact of the revolutions of 1848 on Nicholas I's policies?

  They made him fear another rebellion like the Decembrist revolt of 1825