Rolul elitei locale în formarea structurilor periferice occidentale ale Imperiului Rus [Articol]

Abstract

The role of the local elite in shaping the structures of the western peripheries of the Russian Empire. This article examines the role of the local elite in shaping the administrative and political structures of the western peripheries of the Russian Empire, with a particular focus on Bessarabia in the immediate aftermath of its annexation. In this context, the interaction between the center and the periphery was not unilateral but characterized by interdependence, adaptability, and constant negotiation. Aware of the region’s social and political complexity, the Russian authorities adopted a flexible strategy to avoid tensions, maintaining a balance between imperial control and local particularities. The acceptance of the new authority by the elites not only facilitated economic and geostrategic exploitation but also legitimized the imperial presence. By co-opting the local elite into the administration, Russia ensured regional stability and secured support for the implementation of imperial policies. This mutually beneficial alliance between the Russian autocracy and the nobility proved crucial in such a vast empire,where the bureaucracy had not yet been fully consolidated.