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Russian
history is commonly perceived, by Russians and foreigners alike,
as something basically different from the norms and standards of
the West. This popular view of Russia’s ‘otherness’ has been
epitomized in Winston Churchill’s famous characterization of
Russia as ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’. |
Historians
point to a set of factors that have exercised a profound influence
on the course of Russian history for many a century and have
contributed to its lasting distinctiveness in comparison with
Western societies.
Five factors
appear to have been of a particularly profound significance and will
be considered here:
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the ecological environment
and climate;
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the geopolitical
factor;
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the religious
factor;
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the distinctive
social organisation;
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the specific
political regime.
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Copyrighted material
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Tsarist Russia |
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Images &
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