The Middle Classes

• Russia’s traditional legal structure had been based on 4 groups – nobles,merchants, clergy and peasantry
• However, as demand for managers and professionals grew, the emerging ‘middle layer’ increased in influence.
• Its members expressed their views through the zemstva and the town and state dumas
• Social mobility began to occur as nobles’ sons chose to join the business world or peasant’s sons rose to become middle managers or Factory managers