Paul Lesniak, Russian Economic History During the Later Nineteenth Century

During the latter nineteenth century Russia was going through a major era of reform.  This period of reform began when Alexander II inherited the throne of Russia from his father at the age of 36 in February of 1855.  Alexander II started the ball of reform rolling when in 1861 he issued a proclamation announcing the emancipation of the serfs.  The abolition of serfdom is important because it seems that once this change had taken place other reforms just seemed to snowball afterwards.  The emancipation of the serfs also had a profound effect on the economic system of Russia.  “As a result of the Emancipation the nobility lost not only a considerable part of their land, but also their free supply of labor.”( Michael Karpovich.  Imperial Russia 1801-1917, New York: Holt, Rinehard and Winston, Inc., 1932. P40.)  This period in Russian history can be also characterized by a period of industrialization and modernization.  A societal impact that must be considered is how did the Russians felt about the evolution of this new economic system; this is where the novel Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy, is most beneficial. 

The sector of the economy that was first affected by the emancipation of the serfs was the agriculture industry.  The serfs, who had previously worked the farms on a share crop basis, now had to be hired at a wage to work on the farms, or they where even free to be employed in the new emerging industries during this period of industrialization.  In the novel Anna Karenina this result of the emancipation is portrayed on the farm of Levin.  Now under this new system Levin is forced to hire farm workers each season to ensure that his fields are taken care of.  He is even faced with a situation in which he is experiencing trouble in finding an adequate number of workers that are necessary to take care of the farm.  By portraying these farming dilemmas Tolstoy is expressing some resistance to this change, which has taken place in the economic system of Russia.

Russia during this time was also going through a period of industrialization and modernization in many industries.  Industries that where affected by this process include but are not limited to, the textile, iron, railroad, and banking sectors of the economy.  When Alexander II came to power there were fewer than about 600 total miles in railroads laid in Russia.  However, by the end of his reign there was in excess of 14,000 miles of railroads in operation. 

Tolstoy also expresses a negative view of industrialization and of the railroads in his novel.  He accomplishes in portraying his disapproval of these endeavourers in several methods.  Of course Tolstoy cannot just come right out and say this; most likely due to censorship.  Therefore, in order to get his point across he implements the use of imagery.  Taking a closer look at when first see the railroad in the novel it is apparent that he is portraying it as an example of the bearer of evil.  Tolstoy makes this evident through the scene where the railroad worker is killed on the tracks of the railroad.  However, this incident is only the tip of the iceberg.  Tolstoy further ridicules the railroad by having his two main characters, Anna and Vronsky, meet at the railroad in Moscow.  As it is evident in the novel of the downward spiraling catastrophes that these characters throughout the storyline experience, and Tolstoy by having them meet at the railroad labels it as a primary cause.

This period of Russian history is marked with great reform of all kinds.  The reforms of this era affected the economic system of Russia in many ways and leading to numerous changes.  However, as we see through the eyes of the novel Anna Karenina society did not always respond favorably to these changes.