Conservatism and Revolution: The All-Russian Union of Landowners, 1916-1918

Abstract

This article examines Russian landowners from 1916-1918 and their main organization, the All-Russian Union of Landowners. It argues that privileged social groups like landowners played an important role in the revolutionary process as well as lower social classes. By examining the changing nature of the Union during this period, its activities, ideology and membership, this article shows that the type of conservatism practised by landowners was more flexible than is normally assumed. Although ultimately unsuccessful, the fact that landowners were organized and influencing the Provisional Government only fuelled further turbulence and conflict, which had a profound impact on the development of the Russian Revolution.