Nation and State in Late Imperial Russia

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The book examines the complexities of Russia's relationship with its diverse non-Russian nationalities, particularly in the Western provinces and Poland. It highlights the Russian government's failure to address national identity issues, even during the height of its empire. Utilizing lesser-known archives, Weeks challenges prevailing views on late imperial Russia's national policy, arguing that the government reacted to circumstances rather than actively implementing a "russification" strategy. This well-researched work offers new perspectives on ethnicity and national identity in Russia and Eastern Europe.