Home / Summaries / The Reforms of Tsar Alexander II / serfdom-state-persuade

Emancipation of the Serfs - Reasons for Reform

Q: Why did K.D. Kavelin argue serfdom should be abolished?

Serfdom was condemned as economically inefficient; 'In the economic sphere, serfdom brings the whole state into an abnormal situation and gives rise to artificial phenomena in the national economy which have an unhealthy influence on the whole state organism of the state'

4 important questions on Emancipation of the Serfs - Reasons for Reform

Why did Dimitry Milutin argue that reform of serfdom was necessary?

Whist Serfdom existed then reform of the military couldn't be done.

Why did K.D. Kavelin argue serfdom should be abolished?

Serfdom was condemned as economically inefficient; "In the economic sphere, serfdom brings the whole state into an abnormal situation and gives rise to artificial phenomena in the national economy which have an unhealthy influence on the whole state organism of the state'

What were the economic arguments against serfdom?

Serfdom impeded the emergence of a modern capitalist economy
This was because serfs were an inelastic labour force
Moreover, the absence of money in a serf-based economy retarded industrial development because there was no demand for goods
serfdom was also inefficient and unproductive for agriculture because serfs had no incentive to produce surplus

According to Watt how did Alexander II try to persuade the dvoriane that emancipation was necessary?

Alexander conjured the spectre of widespread peasant revolt to persuade conservative nobles. For example, in his speech to the Tver nobility he declared "It is better to abolish serfdom from above than to wait for the time when it begins to abolish itself from below"