Russia

The relation between any model and specific occurrence in the past, present or future unfolding of history is problematical.’

(Laue 1975:8, footnote)

INTRODUCTION

The western student of Russia attempting to assess how the Gerschenkron model of industrialization stood the test of time in the light of subsequent economic history literature, faces a difficult task compared with his equivalent in other European countries. There is a relative paucity of studies in economic history of Imperial Russia in general, and on industrialization in particular. Those trained in economics have tended to concentrate on the Soviet Union, whilst historians with relevant linguistic equipment have devoted most of their attention to political history, more often than not to the period immediately preceding the October Revolution, or to the Revolution itself. In so far as economic and social problems have been studied, they have not been, with a few exceptions, discrete topics but parts or aspects of a build-up to the Revolution. Where economic issues are discussed separately, they tend to be approached from an institutional or socio-political point of view.