The Provisional Government tried to reform Russia in the middle of war attempting to redefine the purposes for which that war

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Published: July 16, 2010

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The Provisional Government tried to reform Russia in the middle of war, attempting to redefine the purposes for which that war was being fought, assuming the mantle of empire without the empire’s power of coercion. The possibility of the Progressive Bloc invoking patriotism against an incompetent and isolated regime was swept aside by the stark confrontation of 1917. But there was no corresponding reformation of the central government.Rejecting a modern, civic concept of nationhood and reverting to a medieval role, Nicholas foolishly took personal command of the army. This found an echo in the demands for “a government enjoying public confidence” by a new Progressive Bloc in the Duma. During a munitions crisis, local and municipal councils took over the care of the sick and wounded, the production of munitions and the recruitment of labour; the workers were represented on officially recognised public bodies for the first time. As elsewhere, all social classes were initially prepared to suspend internal hostilities.

Stolypin, the minister whose crash legislative programme offered the best chance to modernise the empire, fell victim to a jealous Tsar.The First World War saw the last chance to bridge the gap between empire and people. He spent his time inspecting parades of Guards or with Rasputin, the Siberian surrogate for the millions of his peasant subjects. The isolation of the monarchy continued, as Nicholas tried to recreate a personal link with the nation through church and army. Matters were not helped by Nicholas II’s insistence that this was still an autocracy. “In watching the deputies I was surprised,” wrote the American ambassador, “that many of them did not even return the bows of His Majesty, some of them giving an awkward nod, others staring him coldly in the face, showing no enthusiasm and even almost sullen indifference.”This attempt to manufacture in months the broadly-based constitutional monarchy that had grown elsewhere in Europe over centuries was bound to fail. Peasants in long boots and coarse clothes eyed up resplendent courtiers and generals. A wave of violence swept the countryside, with the glowing manor houses known as “red cockerels”.Deciding to deal with what he optimistically called “the best people”, on 27 April 1906 the Tsar met with deputies to the newly created First State Duma, the first gathering of its kind since the 17th century.

Strikes broke out in the industrial centres, with the communal experience of these erstwhile peasants manifesting itself in the creation of urban soviets. This was part religious procession and part trade union march, with a priest trying to mediate between regime and people Troops opened fire, leaving 200 dead. On Sunday 9 January 1905, a huge crowd of workers and their families, dressed in their Sunday best and carrying icons, portraits of the Tsar, and a petition, marched to the Winter Palace under the leadership of Father Gapon. These were the stratagems of desperate men.Widespread unrest resurfaced during Russia’s dismal war with Japan. Jews replaced Germans as the popular bete noir, with the vital difference that pogroms in 1903 and 1905-06 were officially condoned. Other heavy-handed policies resulted in disaffection in both Finland and the relatively privileged Baltic, and among the Georgians and Armenians. To this end, rebellious Poland became simply “the Vistula region” of Russia, while the Ukraine was known as “Little Russia” and its language treated as a dialect.

Emancipation fell far short of the peasants’ expectations, while the new organs of local government were soon subject to central government veto.The second version of reform, associated with Alexander III, involved forging an identity between empire and people on the basis of Russification. The Square, newly transferred from its well established origins in St James’s, is much more individual-seeming, modern and stylishly designed than most, without a strict dress code and with a distinct lack of stuffiness. I use this one to dress a mixed salad of crisp leaves, tomatoes, carrot, cucumber and sweet pepper. If vegetables start looking like crisps, they could go up in your child’s estimation.Below are three quick and easy recipes which should appeal to the most hard-nosed anti-vegetarian.MINI VEGGIE BITESMakes 8lOOg/4oz each grated carrot, courgette, potato1 tablespoon plain floursalt and pepper to tastevegetable oilSqueeze out excess moisture from the grated vegetables by laying them on several sheets of kitchen paper, covering them with more paper and pressing down to soak up any liquid Mix together in a bowl with the seasoning and flour. Deep-fry each vegetable separately until crisp and lightly golden Drain on kitchen paper and sprinkle with salt. As these tend to be expensive, you might like to try making them at home. This is because fruit and vegetables contain a cocktail of vitamins, minerals and fibre (which cannot be entirely substituted by vitamin supplements) which can act as anti-oxidants.


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