Florinsky

Disintegrating Forces

In The End of the Russian Empire, Michael T. Florinsky explores one of the most significant events in the 20th century. In just over ten years, Russia suffered vast changes in its government, military, and social standards. Throughout this time, war remained an overwhelming factor in the condition of the Russian Empire and in the attitude of the disgruntled masses. Something had to give. The Russo-Japanese War defeat sparked the undeniable need for change and WWI simply drove the nail in the coffin. The people wanted change and Florinsky explains that the Revolution was the outcome of the disintegrating forces set in motion by the War. (p.224) To accept that WWI caused the fall of the Russian Empire, these disintegrating forces must be discussed.

First of all, there is mobilization. In order to fight the War, the Russian government needed soldiers. However, Russia also needed workers to supply war goods to the soldiers while also supplying a tax base to fund the War. This created a conflict between the bureaucracy and the military. The war effort shifted millions of people from their normal jobs to the army, or into the cities. As the urban populations grew alongside heightening public discontent, the poverty and ignorance of the masses proved a most favorable ground for the spreading of revolutionary ideas and spelled the doom of the monarchy. (p.46) Therefore, if there had been no war and no mobilization of the masses, then there might not have been a revolution.

Another disintegrating force brought on by war was isolation. With only two ports left open during the war, Russia was forced to supply goods using mainly the railroad system. However, the entire system was incompetent and showed internal backwardness which caused further mistrust and questioning of the powers of the mighty Empire.

In addition to mobilization and isolation, WWI caused the weakening of industry and agriculture in Russia. The war effort demanded more productivity in both areas. This caused the overworking and underpaying of industrial workers and increased bitterness among peasants over their insufficient allotments, or overpopulation . With opposition to the government on all sides, including the demoralized army, revolution was eminent.

Florinsky gives many factors that caused the fall of the Russian Empire. Leadership, backwardness, and war can all be backed up with solid arguments. However, I feel that WWI was, without a doubt, the overwhelming cause. War can push a nation to its limits and it is clear that no part of the Russian State was able to fulfill the tasks demanded of it . (p.265)