A Study Of Russian Right-wing Parties (1905-1917)

As an important political force at the turning point of 20th century Russia, the right-wing parties had active performance in that period of history. To understand right-wing parties can better help us comprehend that piece of history. The introductory works or materials of Russian right-wing party in China is not adequate, let alone abundant. So this thesis endeavors to end up all reachable resources to draw an outline of the rightists, mainly focusing on its program and strategies, as well as its failure.The thesis is subdivided into three chapters.Chapter 1 introduces the social makeup and members of the right-wing parties. The right-wing parties appeared in 1905, while their members reached maximum of 401,00 in 1908. The upper class of membership were aristocrats and intellectuals, while has many the lower class peasants and workers. Due to deepened domestic conflicts since WWI, the members of right-wing parties decreased tremendously: firstly, many right-wing activists joined the army to the frontline, which weakened the backbone of right-wing parties; secondly, the program of unconditional support to the Czar lost appeal to both upper class and lower class. Many members quit right-wing parties.Chapter 2 mainly introduces programs and strategies of right-wing parties. Section 1 introduces the core spirit of right-wing program: ''trinity'', eg. ''Orthodox, absolute monarchy and people.'' Section 2 introduces the right-wing attitude toward workers and peasants, including their point of view of industry and agriculture, which are seldom to find in domestic works. This explains why so many workers and peasants joined the right-wing movement at the very beginning. Second 3 introduces strategies. Right-wing parties was very cautious on intra-party coalition, even the same with moderate monarchist party. Their contact with Czar was mainly conducted by letters or telegrams. Those means were especially important when Czar turned right later. The right-wing parties also support the restoration of ancient ''factum petition'' as direct communication between Czar and people, and the abolishment of duma, which caused their diminished influence in the first and seond duma.Chapter 3 is a historical account of the fall of right-wing parties, mainly focusing on the important historical events. Section 1 introduces the changes of government and Czar's attitude. They on the one hand exploited the right-wing parties, on the other hand put pressure on them, assuring them not to unite into one single party. Section 2 mainly introduces the inner conflicts within right-wing parties. Major parties are Russian People Union, Russian People Innovation Alliance and Archangel Mikhail Russian People Alliance. Their leaders had no fundamental difference in defending autocracy, but had sharp debates on detailed questions, such as the discrepant attitudes towards war in the late phase of WWI.