New Books in History Susanna Rabow-Edling, "The First Russian Revolution: The Decembrist Revolt Of 1825" (Reaktion Books, 2025)
Nov 16, 2025
Susanna Rabow-Edling, a historian and author of The First Russian Revolution: The Decembrist Revolt of 1825, explores the pivotal but failed Decembrist uprising. She delves into the Decembrists' aspirations for individual rights and serf emancipation, and their Western-influenced radicalism. Discussing the repercussions of their actions, she highlights Nicholas I's oppressive response, the complex legacy they left behind, and their portrayal in modern media. Their story offers a fascinating glimpse into Russia's revolutionary spirit and ongoing debates about nationalism.
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Aristocratic Origins Of Russian Liberalism
- Many Decembrists were aristocratic officers educated in Europe who embraced liberal ideas despite their privileges.
- Their exposure to Western systems and the Napoleonic wars made them see Russian backwardness and oppose serfdom and despotism.
Freedom Meant Emancipation And Participation
- The Decembrists sought both negative freedoms (rights from tyranny) and positive freedoms (political participation).
- Their chief political aim was the emancipation of the serfs alongside civil liberties like press freedom.
Military Service Fueled Reformist Views
- Service as officers in the Napoleonic Wars was pivotal: it exposed Russian nobles to liberal ideas and European practices.
- Returning veterans contrasted Europe's liberties with Russia's serfdom, intensifying reformist anger.
