Some Kind of Liberties

Why Did Early Russian Constitutionalism Devolve into “Sham Constitutionalism”

Abstract

For over a decade, between 1906 and 1917, Russia was technically governed under the first-ever Russian Constitution: the Fundamental Laws of 1906. In reality, however, Tsar Nicholas II and his ministers consistently violated the Constitution and conducted affairs as if it didn’t exist— resulting in Early Russian Constitutionalism devolving into “Sham Constitutionalism”. Societal indifference to these violations, especially to the dissolving of the First Duma, played a pivotal role in allowing “Sham Constitutionalism” to develop.  As a result of certain social pressures— such as autocratic traditions, a lack of legal consciousness, and a divided, nascent public sphere—Russian society was too indifferent to play a pivotal role in upholding the First Constitution.