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Law, Rights and Ideology in Russia

Landmarks in the Destiny of a Great Power

By (author) Bill Bowring
Format: Paperback / softback
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, London, United Kingdom
Imprint: Routledge
Published: 22nd Sep 2014
Dimensions: w 156mm h 234mm d 13mm
Weight: 357g
ISBN-10: 0415831997
ISBN-13: 9780415831994
Barcode No: 9780415831994
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Synopsis
This book provides a rich examination of Russia's particular attitude to political liberalism, the rule of law, and rights. In words often cited in contemporary Russia, the former Bolshevik and religious philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev wrote, in 1911, that 'Russia is the Third Rome'. This book examines the legacy of this messianic self-narrative, stressing its importance for any adequate understanding of contemporary Russian attitudes to the rule of law. The book starts with the surprising role of the Scottish Enlightenment in the origins of law as an academic discipline in Russia in the eighteenth century. The Great Reforms of Tsar Aleksandr II, abolishing serfdom in 1861 and introducing jury trial in 1864, are then examined and debated as genuine reforms or the response to a revolutionary situation. A new interpretation of the life and work of the Soviet legal theorist Yevgeniy Pashukanis leads to an analysis of the conflicted attitude of the USSR to international law and human rights, especially the right of peoples to self-determination. The complex history of autonomy in Tsarist and Soviet Russia is considered, alongside the collapse of the USSR in 1991. An examination of Russia's plunge into the European human rights system under Yeltsin is followed by the history of the death penalty in Russia. Finally, the secrets of the ideology of 'sovereignty' in the Putin era and their impact on law and rights are revealed. Throughout, the constant theme is the centuries long hegemonic struggle between Westernisers and Slavophiles, against the backdrop of the Messianism that proclaimed Russia to be the Third Rome, was revived in the mission of Soviet Russia to change the world and which has echoes in contemporary Eurasianism and the ideology of sovereignty.

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'Bill Bowring brings to his new book insights gained from a close study of Russian sources usually ignored by Western scholars, as well as a professional lifetime's fascination with Russian legal and political theory. His contextual discussions bring a new level of understanding of the importance of the landmarks on which he focuses. This book will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in Russia, her history, legal system and political development. The style is clear and accessible, making the book enjoyable to read as well is hugely informative. Very highly recommended.' - Jane Henderson, King's College London; author of "The Constitution of the Russian Federation: A Contextual Analysis" (Hart 2011)

'[Professor Bowring] has an expert knowledge of the situation regarding law and human rights there, and this book is an invaluable source of information on historic and current Russian law' - Jean Turner for Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies (2013)

'The book is highly informative. The author maintains a keen eye for detail, sometimes unknown amongst Russian lawyers. His knowledge of current debates is surprisingly extensive and precise.' - Sergey Tretyakov, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, for Russian Law Journal

'Summarizing on the book by Professor Bowring, I would like to note its novelty and originality. The author presented a historical and comparative legal analysis of such three important issues as ideology, law and human rights. In addition, the value of the book is in numerous tables with updated statistics on such issues as sovereignty, ethnic populations, death penalty executions and types of crimes for which death penalty was appointed in Russia. All the above materials present a special value for the academia and political and law experts interested in Russia.' - A. Saidov for Democratization and Human Rights 2(62)-2014

'Throughout Landmarks, Bowring usefully brings to light Russian debates on a range of topical issues in legal and political journals, edited collections and conferences, which have not been previously highlighted or translated in to the English language.' - Victor Kattan, National University of Singapore, for Social & Legal Studies (2014)