IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : History Of Modern Europe (Mid 18th to 20th Centuries)- EMPIRES AND NATION-STATES - 2: THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND SOVIET UNION


IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History Of Modern Europe Mid 18th to Mid 20th Centuries

EMPIRES AND NATION-STATES - 2: THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND SOVIET UNION


Structure

20.0 Objectives
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Differences from Other Empires
20.3 National Awakenings
20.4 R~~ssiticatiol~f the Polish Cultural Space
20.5 Russificatio~~ of the Ballic
20.6 Russification of the Ukraine
20.7 Russificatio~~ inFinland
20.8 The Soviet Reintegration
20.8.1 Belorussia
20.8.2 Ukraine
20.8.3 Minority Nationalities
20.8.4 The Stalinist Thirties
20.9 Let Us Sum Up
20.10 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

20.0 OBJECTIVES

In this Unit our attempt is to make you learn:

  • a how the Russian Empire was different from the other two Empires discussed in the previous Unit;
  • how the Rusdan Empire was ahle to integrate the minority nationalities within its fold; and
  • a how the Soviet Union rcintegratcd hese minority nationalities after they were separated from tlle Empire after World War I.

20.1 INTRODUCTION

In the previous Uait, you have read how the Ottoman and the Habsburg Empires collapsed
under the weight of their mu1ti~;~tional composition and also due 60 challenges posed by the
rising ~iationalist movements. In this Unit. we will discllss how the Russian Empire was
different from the after two Einpircs and how even after breaking up under the impact of the
war, its succcssor state, the soviet union was able to unite most of its constituent units.

20.2 DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER EMPIRES

The Russian Empire faced all the hazards of ~llultinational composition in the era of nationalism;
and victors sought to prise apart thc pieces after a successful war. But 11 differed from the other
Lwo empires ill nlany respects.
In the previous Unit. you have read how the ottoman and the Hahshurg empires collapsed
under the weight of their nlulti-national conlposition and also due to challenges posed by the
rising nationalist movements. In this LJnit we will discuss how the Russin Empire was different
li-om the othcr two empires and how even after breaking up under the impact of the war. its
successor state, the Soviet Unioll, was ahlc to unite iliost of its conslituent units. 

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