Russia Without Peter

WI Peter The Great had never been born, or died young?

For one thing, Russia might have remained a feudal backwater against the Age of Reason in most of the rest of Europe for several more decades. There's also the Great Northern War to consider. Discuss!
 
I believe this topic had been discussed repeatedly. Dig archives and revive some old topic if you have some ideas which weren't adequately discussed before. Short answer is that there're numerous schools of thought, covering ground from Russia becoming second Qing China (self-isolated backward country) until well into 19th century (Napoleon is bound to stir this swamp anyway) to Russia developing gradually but more surely with effect of POD more or less disappearing by 1760s (i.e. Russia of Catharine the Great being similar to Peter-less Russia, as country had been recovering from the Peter's ruthless rule for 15-20 years after his death).
 
Would Napoleon still exist in this scenario?
I'd say that Russian influence of France is weak enough in 18 century, so French Revolution is bound to happen anyway, give or take a decade. Napoleon or no Napoleon, it is bound to stir whole continent pretty badly and affect Russia. Besides, it isn't really possible to pull a Qing in Russia, it is too close to Poland (read "European Border") and Osmans. Russia was significant player in the regional politic well before Peter. I would say that pre-Peter Russian sphere of influence was more far-reaching than that of Russia today and definitely exceeded that of Yeltsin's Russia.
 
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