Covering two centuries of Russian history, Forging a Unitary State is a comprehensive account of the creation of what is commonly known as the "Russian Empire," from Poland to Siberia. In this book, John P. LeDonne demonstrates that the so-called empire was, for the most part, a unitary state, defined by an obsessive emphasis on centralization and uniformity. The standardization of local administration, the judicial system, tax regime, and commercial policy were carried out slowly but systematically over eight generations, in the hope of integrating people on the periphery into the Russian political and social hierarchy.

The ultimate goal of Russian policy was to create a "Fortress Empire" consisting of a huge Russian unitary state flanked by a few peripheral territories, such as Finland, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia. Additional peripheral states, such as Sweden, Turkey, and Persia, would guarantee the security of this "Fortress Empire," and the management of Eurasian territory. LeDonne's provocative argument is supported by a careful comparative study of Russian expansion along its western, southern, and eastern borders, drawing on vital but under-studied administrative evidence. Forging a Unitary State is an essential resource for those interested in the long history of Russian expansionism.

About the Author
John P. LeDonne is a senior research associate at the Davis Center, Harvard University.

Reviews

"LeDonne's method is strictly historical, based on the careful reading of vast literatures, with a good dose of old-fashioned physical and human geography. At times this reads almost like the imagery travels of Jules Verne or the real-life accounts of young Petr Kropotkin."

-- Georgi Derluguian, NYU Abu Dhabi * Canadian-American Slavic Studies *

"A short review cannot do justice to the wealth of detail provided in each section."

-- Alfred J. Rieber, The Central European University * American Historical Review *

"LeDonne is one of the most distinguished historians of eighteenth-century Russia working in English; this culminating magnum opus displays many of the trademark features of his earlier work, including close attention to changing institutional structures, a focus on the interplay between domestic and foreign-policy concerns, and an awareness of the peculiarities of each region."

-- Gregory Afinogenov, Georgetown University * Journal of Modern History *


Awards
Winner of 2021 PROSE Award Subject Category Association of American Publishers 2021 (United States).



Book Information
ISBN 9781487542115
Author John P. LeDonne
Format Paperback
Page Count 682
Imprint University of Toronto Press
Publisher University of Toronto Press
Weight(grams) 900g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 38mm