The reformist character of the temperance movement in Russia in the “path choice” period in 1907-1914

Abstract

The aim of the article is to prove the author's hypothesis that the vast temperance movement (TM) increased the potential of the reformist development in Russia. The objective is to learn the exact mechanism of its influence on the society. The research methodology includes analysis, synthesis, objectivity, historicism and interdisciplinarity. The sources of the material are: reports and periodicals of temperance societies, papers by the movement participants, notes of the anti-alcohol congresses, articles by administrative bodies, newspapers. The analyzed territory is Russia without Poland and Finland. TM was the society's response to the alcohol policy by the tsarism. Its influence was increasing. As of 1 January 1911, there were 1,873 temperance societies in Russia with nearly 500,000 members. 74.5 % of the societies were located in villages with most members from the peasantry; 25.5 % were in urban settlements, with most members from workers. 1,782 societies (95.14 % of the total number) were religious with 1,771 of them Orthodox. Their leaders were mostly priests. Of 91 civil societies, 56 were Estonian, 15 Latvian, 2 Finnish and 18 international ones. The manifestation and outcomes of the movement were the following. (A) Locally, (1) the participants of the movement adopted a sober lifestyle, peace and wealth came into families; (2) the participants became a part of a group of soulmates, many of them found a high meaning of life; (3) some societies were involved in educational and charity work; (4) the societies encouraged people to take part in useful activities; (5) due to the societies' impact, open alcohol abuse, hooliganism and criminal activity were decreasing, sober traditions were emerging, communities made public verdicts to close down state wine stores and to ban illegal alcohol sale. (B) On the state and regional levels, on 11 December 1907 the III State Duma established the Anti-alcohol Panel. On 16 November 1911 the Duma adopted the law providing for essential educational and restrictive measures. In 1909-1912 All-Russia congresses against alcohol abuse were held. In 1913-1914 abstinence festivals in both capitals and in more than 50 other provinces were organized. Nicholas II saw the movement as a way to reinforce the political situation in the country; in April 1913 he began to openly support it and in January 1914 proceeded to change the alcohol policy in the country. A circular of the Minister of Finance of 11 March 1914 indicated that it was necessary to satisfy the petitions of rural societies to ban the sale of vodka on their territory. In February-July 1914, the government approved 800 such petitions. A campaign began, during which local governments and state authorities took new educational and restrictive anti-alcohol measures. So, the temperance movement, reformist in character, contributed to the improvement and strengthening of Russia. It urged the authorities to take measures that increased the stability of society and the possibility of development along a peaceful path. This was the “rise of Order out of Chaos”. At the same time, during the rapid anti-alcohol campaign of 1914, opposite processes began.