audiobook No Establishment of Religion: America's Original Contribution to Religious Liberty by From Brand: Oxford University Press in History

Description

Russia's Empires explores the long history of Russia; the Soviet Union; and the present Russian Federation through the lens of empire; analyzing how and why Russia expanded to become the largest country on the globe and how it repeatedly fell under the sway of strong; authoritarian leaders. Authors Valerie A. Kivelson and Ronald Grigor Suny examine how imperial practices shaped choices and limited alternatives. Using the concept of empire; they look at the ways in which ordinary people imagined their position within a non-democratic polity--whether the Muscovite tsardom or the Soviet Union--and what concessions the rulers had to make; or appear to make; in order to establish their authority and preserve their rule. Russia's Empires tackles the long history of the region; following the vicissitudes of empire--the absence; the coalescence; and the setbacks of imperial aspirations--across the centuries. The framework of empire allows the authors to address pressing questions of how various forms of non-democratic governance managed to succeed and survive; or; alternatively; what caused them to collapse and disappear. Studying Russia's extensive history in an imperial guise encourages students to pay attention to forms of inclusion; displays of reciprocity; and manifestations of ideology that might otherwise go unnoted; overlooked under the bleak record of coercion and oppression that so often characterizes ideas about Russia.