The Socio-economic Thinking Of M.N. Katkov

M.N. Katkov (1818-1887) is a well-knownpublisher and thinker in Russia’s modern history, is one of the main representativesthinkers of the19th century in Russia. His publications include literary and politicalscience magazine "Russian Herald, and newspaper" MoscowNews ".The main contents include the following aspects:The first chapter is the introduction: introduction of this paper, the significance ofthe topic, research methods, writing ideas, innovation and shortcomings.The second chapter introduces M.N. Katkov s publications.Russia Herald founded in1856. Katkov made it one of Russia’s most famousliterary magazine in a wide range of literary and intellectual influence. Polish uprisingin1863made "Moscow News" to be the arbiter of Russian conservatism. In about25years time, accompanied by the formation and development of the Russian publicopinion, Katkov and his "Moscow News" extended to all aspects of life of Russiansociety, their conservative view was not only shaping reform awareness of theRussian people and ideas, but also largely reflected the government’s decision,becoming one of the most important centers of public opinion. M.N. Katkov reachedits peak during the Alexander III."Moscow News" editorial department became aunique "Command", where dominated the affairs of the country, and discussed themost important personnel appointment and removal matters.The third chapter describes Katkov and Russian railway construction.To Katkov, railway construction was the starting point and the main content ofeconomic construction, and Katkov advocated to promote the country to speed uprailway construction. The mid-1860s to the mid-1870s, was a period of unprecedenteddevelopment of Russian private railway, Katkov and his "Moscow News" advocated the strengthening of the powers of the state s authoritarian in the railroad business,enhanced the competition between private railway companies, and against theirmonopoly, advocated state intervention in rail freight policy. In the1880s, Katkovand his publications regarded nationalization of private rail as the main way to solvethe railroad problem. In addition to the economic benefits, Katkov paid more attentionthe railway nationalization political interests to the government.The fourth Chapter describes Katkov s industrial development thinking. From the1850s to the1880s, Katkov always regarded tariff policy as the main measure toregulate domestic production. Katkov and his publications adhered to the policy offree trade from the mid-1850s to the mid-1870s, but to the1980s stronglyimplemented tariff protectionism, which gave the government’s economic policies ofAlexander III a huge impact. The reason why there was such a big turning point in theKatkov s tariff policy ideas, was concerned with his ideological transformation, butalso had a direct relationship with the domestic and international economicenvironment changes.The Chapter V describes Katkov s mind of workers. Katkov and his publicationsin a very long time thought, that the Russian workers and the West workers weredifferent, emphasizing the special nature of the Russian workers. However, theRussian government also faced with the important task to improve the lives ofworkers, coordination of labor relations. With the deepening of the industrialrevolution, the Russian workers became increasingly complex. Katkov insisted thatworkers should be resolved in the political and legal aspects, rather than in thesocio-economic aspects. As long as government intervened in factory affairs by thelegal and administrative means, he could solve the problem of workers withoutconflict. Katkov thought, that the government should act as an intermediary betweenthe workers and capitalists. Legislation on workers in the1880s reflected theKatkov s preach by some points.Chapter VI describes Katkov and Russia farmer problems. Katkov thought, thatRussian village community system inhibit free competition and rights consciousness,the tradition of restraining the powerful and helping the weak was not conducive to the development of the rural economy, he advocated the abolition of the villagecommunity. In addition to the community system, Katkov and his publications alsoregarded the burden of taxes, alcohol and mismanagement as the causes of farmers poverty, but denied farmers lack of land.The last is a summary. Katkov is one of the founders of the economic policy ofRussian autocracy, but his points had an ever-changing process. Katkov did not wantautocratic country to fully embark on the Western-style development path, but ratherthat the new social and economic relationship to adapt the autocratic system and itsneeds. Katkov in the1880s struggled with Chancellor of the Exchequer andeventually compelled him to retire.