The First Russian Revolution. The Decembrist Revolt of 1825
An online lecture by Dr. Susanna Rabow-Edling
On 14 December 1825 a group of young Russian army officers led 3,000 troops to Senate Square in St. Petersburg, aiming to force the Senate to read their bold Manifesto to the people, which claimed that the tsar had renounced the throne and the government had therefore ceased to exist, and which called for a constitution, the abolition of serfdom, and civil rights. The Decembrist Revolt—as it came to be known—was suppressed, with a second uprising in the south meeting the same fate. Five leaders were executed, and many others exiled to Siberia.
Why did so many young noblemen risk their lives for regime change? What was their vision for an alternative society? And what were the consequences for participants and their families? This talk will highlight the often-neglected liberal tradition in Russian political thought and the experiences of Decembrist wives and fiancées, offering a fresh reinterpretation in the light of recent events in Russia.
About the Speaker
A political scientist by discipline, Dr. Susanna Rabow-Edling’s training was in the subfield of political thought, where political science intersects with history and philosophy. Dr. Rabow-Edling defended her doctoral dissertation at Stockholm University in 2001, had visiting fellowships at Cornell University and at Stanford University, and became an Associate Professor at the Institute of Russian and Eurasian Studies (IRES), Uppsala University, in 2012.
During 2019-2023, Dr. Rabow-Edling served as Director of the Master’s Program in Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Institute. Currently, she is Director of Research and Deputy Director at IRES. She is the author of four books: Slavophile Thought and the Politics of Cultural Nationalism (State University of New York Press: Albany, NY, 2006); Married to the Empire. Three Governors’ Wives in Russian America 1829-1864 (Fairbanks, AK, 2015); Liberalism in Pre-Revolutionary Russia. State, Nation, Empire (Abingdon and New York, 2019); The First Russian Revolution: The Decembrist Revolt of 1825.
Connecting with Zoom
This virtual lecture is presented live via Zoom. Registered users will be emailed a link to join this Zoom program. To get started, please download Zoom on your chosen device and explore the Frequently Asked Questions.
This program will be recorded and posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.