With Tsar and Against Him. B. N. Chicherin as a Supporter of the Rule of Law and Opponent of Radicalism Cover Image

За царя и против него. Борис Н. Чичерин как сторонник правового государства и противник радикализма
With Tsar and Against Him. B. N. Chicherin as a Supporter of the Rule of Law and Opponent of Radicalism

Author(s): Josef Šaur
Subject(s): History
Published by: Česká asociace slavistů
Keywords: B. N. Chicherin; radicalism; tsar; Russia; 19th century; Moscow University

Summary/Abstract: The article aims at a depiction of social and political views of an important representative of Russian liberal thinking, B. N. Chicherin. Because of the limited space, Chicherin’s views are illustrated on two significant examples. The first one is related to the start of his pedagogical activities at Moscow University in 1861. At that time, Chicherin opposed students’ radicalism during student riots. He rejected all forms of breaking the law, even if the laws were wrong. The second example is related to the years 1866 and 1867, when, after an affair with the reappointment of Professor Leshkov to his post, Chicherin stood up against the government, which was breaking valid laws. Consequently, he left Moscow University and continued with the critique of the central tsarist autocracy and Russian socialists and radicals as well. He saw a danger for successful course of reforms in the activities of both antagonized groups. History later showed that he was right.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 125-137
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Russian