this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2025
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Explanation: The Russian Empire under the Tsars continued serfdom later than any other major European country - some 23 million people in the Empire were still serfs when they were freed... in 1861.
For obvious reasons, this enduring legacy of near-slavery did no favors to the long-term stability of the monarchy, and Russia similarly lagged behind its peers economically in part because of the long-lasting effects of keeping an entire nation in bondage.
A curious thing that many scholars have pointed out is that Russia has never truly had a modern democracy or democratic system .... ever.
Many people in the modern day underestimate the cultural value of even deeply imperfect institutions.
Democracy is learned. And it's a hard thing to learn by observation.
May Russia have a democratic future one day.
Hell, for that matter, may we all have a more democratic future...