Authors

Paul Robinson¹;  ¹ University of Ottawa, Canada

Discussion

Emperor Alexander III of Russia is generally regarded as a reactionary figure, and in Western scholarship has tended to be viewed in a negative light as someone who halted the reforms conducted by his father and so prevented Russia from developing in a manner that could have avoided revolution. In keeping with the conservative turn in modern Russian politics, however, contemporary Russia has adopted a far more positive view of the Emperor. This is reflected in recent books devoted to Alexander III, including several biographies, volumes of his correspondence, and analyses of different aspects of his domestic and foreign policies. This paper will examine these writings. It will demonstrate modern Russian authors’ admiration of Alexander III as someone who promoted Russian national interests and who restored political and social stability as well as Russia’s great power status. From this, the paper will draw conclusions about what these writings indicate about the conservative and nationalist tenor of contemporary Russian thought.