Chapter Two, Part One
Taken from the textbook “Empire Economics” [1] by Sergi Serov
“On November 1st 1893 Russia stood silent as the Alcoholic who brought them into the twentieth century died; he collapsed on the stairs having long been suffering from ill health [2]. George who had been spending time living with both with his family in the Palace and his own compound in Saint Petersburg now officially moved into his new home at the Winter Palace and began making preparation for his coronation which was to be quaint and relatively low key.
One of the first key appointments George made was to place Zinovy Marakuev into the position Minister for Labour, Marakuev was a populist choice and the skilled Marakuev was able to shape the position into more than it was using it to wield significant influence and power. Konstantin Pobedonostsev who was by this point de facto leader and face of the Conservative Aristocrats considered standing down from his position of Minister to the Far East, however he was talked down from this; his position was so far from Central Authority that he could act fairly freely whilst the protest would do little for the Aristocratic cause)
This was a problem George rapidly came across, during his time at his compound in Saint Petersburg he has been with Radical (Not by today’s standard, but at the time Russia was staunchly reactionary) figures and had developed fairly Progressive policies [3]. The Reactionaries came to a head with George early on, when his rule wasn’t strongly laid down and opposed his “Workplace healthcare and safety reform policy” which would set some workplace standards and create an Independent Bureau to uphold these standards.
This new bureau lacked significant funding and had poor management from the start and as such would be the centre of much controversy amongst workers on its collapse in 1896 [4]. However this was in stark contrast to the highly successful Imperial Financial Authority which along with the Workplace Bureau was a sect of the Imperial treasury, at the time of its creation Sergei Witte worked his way up becoming Chairman by mid-way though 1894, effectively setting up the entire Agency from scratch.
The way in which George politically manoeuvred is still studied to this day by Politicians, he first used a carrot approach offering Konstantin Pobedonostsev even less Central Administration to craft Georges fathers ‘Shift in priorities’, he similarly offered Cabinet posts to many Aristocrats to go along with many Progressive Candidates which would ironically work fairly efficiently during Georges reign (The only exception being Pobedonostsev and Marakuevs feud) those Aristocrats still against George were silenced by the watering down of Georges “Workplace healthcare and safety reform policy” or fear of peasant unrest and isolation from Georges court. As 1893 became 1894 (George having completed this move in 2 months) George had achieved more than creating his “Workplace healthcare and safety reform policy” he had cemented his position in power and created an efficient and working Russia. As George sent his brother Michael to study economics in Britain (which he had become interested in [5]), he began about changing the Russian economy entirely with his control now cemented.
[1] Taken from the Chapter “The Romanov Investment Bubble”
[2] Note ITTL Alexander has a drinking problem and various factions have been undermining him straining his health.
[3] These had also been influenced by George visiting several factories where conditions were poor as well as Charles Booths Review of poverty in the East End of London.
[4] After its collapse George began reforming the bureau before handing that job over to his brother Michael when suffering from ill health and as such would avoid blame for its second collapse in 1902.
[5] Note Chapter One part Two.
Taken from the textbook “Empire Economics” [1] by Sergi Serov
“On November 1st 1893 Russia stood silent as the Alcoholic who brought them into the twentieth century died; he collapsed on the stairs having long been suffering from ill health [2]. George who had been spending time living with both with his family in the Palace and his own compound in Saint Petersburg now officially moved into his new home at the Winter Palace and began making preparation for his coronation which was to be quaint and relatively low key.
One of the first key appointments George made was to place Zinovy Marakuev into the position Minister for Labour, Marakuev was a populist choice and the skilled Marakuev was able to shape the position into more than it was using it to wield significant influence and power. Konstantin Pobedonostsev who was by this point de facto leader and face of the Conservative Aristocrats considered standing down from his position of Minister to the Far East, however he was talked down from this; his position was so far from Central Authority that he could act fairly freely whilst the protest would do little for the Aristocratic cause)
This was a problem George rapidly came across, during his time at his compound in Saint Petersburg he has been with Radical (Not by today’s standard, but at the time Russia was staunchly reactionary) figures and had developed fairly Progressive policies [3]. The Reactionaries came to a head with George early on, when his rule wasn’t strongly laid down and opposed his “Workplace healthcare and safety reform policy” which would set some workplace standards and create an Independent Bureau to uphold these standards.
This new bureau lacked significant funding and had poor management from the start and as such would be the centre of much controversy amongst workers on its collapse in 1896 [4]. However this was in stark contrast to the highly successful Imperial Financial Authority which along with the Workplace Bureau was a sect of the Imperial treasury, at the time of its creation Sergei Witte worked his way up becoming Chairman by mid-way though 1894, effectively setting up the entire Agency from scratch.
The way in which George politically manoeuvred is still studied to this day by Politicians, he first used a carrot approach offering Konstantin Pobedonostsev even less Central Administration to craft Georges fathers ‘Shift in priorities’, he similarly offered Cabinet posts to many Aristocrats to go along with many Progressive Candidates which would ironically work fairly efficiently during Georges reign (The only exception being Pobedonostsev and Marakuevs feud) those Aristocrats still against George were silenced by the watering down of Georges “Workplace healthcare and safety reform policy” or fear of peasant unrest and isolation from Georges court. As 1893 became 1894 (George having completed this move in 2 months) George had achieved more than creating his “Workplace healthcare and safety reform policy” he had cemented his position in power and created an efficient and working Russia. As George sent his brother Michael to study economics in Britain (which he had become interested in [5]), he began about changing the Russian economy entirely with his control now cemented.
[1] Taken from the Chapter “The Romanov Investment Bubble”
[2] Note ITTL Alexander has a drinking problem and various factions have been undermining him straining his health.
[3] These had also been influenced by George visiting several factories where conditions were poor as well as Charles Booths Review of poverty in the East End of London.
[4] After its collapse George began reforming the bureau before handing that job over to his brother Michael when suffering from ill health and as such would avoid blame for its second collapse in 1902.
[5] Note Chapter One part Two.
Last edited: