PETER WALDRON is Professor of Modern History at the University of East Anglia, UK. His publications include the End of Imperial Russia, 1855-1917 which is also in the European History in Perspective series.

'A very helpful and clear guide to a complicated subject. This is the only book which covers the institutions and practice of autocratic government from Peter the Great to 1917 in such a concise and readable fashion.' - Christopher Read, University of Warwick, UK 'Waldron's succinct overview provides a fresh look, often with insightful commentary, into the workings of the much-maligned state in Imperial Russia. His refreshing style and lucid analysis should not deceive the reader, for the work of an entire generation of new research is summarized within the covers of this book.' - Ben Eklof, Indiana University, USA '...an admirable synthesis of key concepts, events and developments in Russian political history of the imperial period.' - Theodore R. Weeks, Revolutionary Russia 'Professor Waldron presents us with a detailed analysis of the Tsarist system from Peter the Great to Nicholas II.' - Jim Dunbar, SATH Resources Review

• List of MapsChronologyPrefaceIntroduction: Building the Russian StatePART I: THE ETHOS OF AUTOCRACYThe Ideology of TsarismMonarchsServicePART II: RULING AN EMPIREInstitutionsProvincial AuthorityCoercion, Police and JusticeNational ChallengesFinancing the EmpireConclusion: The Legacy of TsarismNotesBibliographyIndex.