The theme of this book is the political system of Russia. It traces the growth of the Russian state from its beginnings in the ninth century to the end of the nineteenth, and the parallel development of the principal social orders: peasantry, nobility, middle class and clergy. The question which it poses is why in Russia -- unlike the rest of Europe to which Russia belongs by virtue of her location, race and religion -- society has proven unable to impose on political authority any kind of effective restraints. After suggesting some answers to this problem, I go on to show how in Russia the opposition to absolutism tended to assume the form of a struggle for ideals rather than for class interests, and how the imperial government, challenged in this manner, responded by devising administrative practices that clearly anticipate those of the modern police state. - Foreword.

The environment and its consequences -- The genesis of the patrimonial state in Russia -- The triumph of patrimonialism -- The anatomy of the patrimonial regime -- The partial dismantling of the patrimonial state -- The peasantry -- Dvorianstvo -- The missing bourgeoisie -- The church as servant of the state -- The intelligentsia -- Toward the police state.