D. A. Barinov. Student Fraternities of the Russian Empire: From National to Political //Petersburg Historical journal, no. 2, 2026, pp. 88–97.
DOI 10.51255/2311–603X_2026_2_88
Abstract:
Modern historiography of higher education convincingly demonstrates that national organisations(primarily regional associations) were among the most representative in the student environment at the turnof the 19th and 20th centuries. The author of the article attempts to trace the transition from politicizationof such associations to political struggle. Using materials from St. Petersburg University, it was possible todemonstrate that some political, neutral (cultural or economic) organizations of a national nature fell intothe orbit of larger radical parties, which often fought for influence over a specific circle. Other associationsgradually gained popularity and became independent parties / movements that claimed pan-imperial andregional coverage (the Belarusian Socialist Community, the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party, the Latvian “New Current”, etc.). At the same time, the movements that formed, despite their democratic slogans, were of anintellectual nature and arose far from the people whose interests they planned to defend. Agitation work wastransferred from large cities to the periphery later. The creation and politicization of national organizationswas facilitated by the democratic student environment, which the Tsarist government was powerless tocontrol. Upon entering the university, a young person became involved in public life and, indirectly, in formsof political struggle, which was encouraged by the illegal status of even non-political communities.
Key words: St. Petersburg University, national movements, student movements, history of politicalparties.
Author:
Barinov, Dmitry Andreevich — PhD in History, Researcher, European University (St. Petersburg, Russia).
E-mail: barinovdima1990@yandex.ru
ORCID: 0000-0003-3592-8557
References:
Isakov, S. G. Estonskiye obshchestva i organizatsii v Peterburge v XIX — pervyie gody XX v. i ikh
kul’turno-prosvetitel’naya deyatel’nost’ [Estonian Societies and Organizations in St. Petersburg in the 19th — First Years of the 20th Century and Their Cultural and Educational Activities. In Russ.]. In Russia and the Baltics. Moscow, 2004. Iss. 3, pp. 156–187.
Kazaryan, G. M. Armyanskoe obshchestvenno-politicheskoe dvizhenie v 50–60-kh godakh XIX veka i Rossiya [Armenian Socio-Political Movement in the 1850–60s and Russia. In Russ.]. Yerevan, 1979, 383 p.
Khrokh, M. Ot natsional’nykh dvizhenii k polnost’yu sformirovavsheisya natsii [From National
Movements to a Fully Formed Nation. In Russ.]. In Nations and nationalism. Moscow, Praksis publ., 2002, pp. 121–145.
Kirakosyan, N. B. Sozdaniye i deyatel’nost’ partii “Dashnaktsutyun” (1890–1907 gg.) [Creation and
Activities of the Dashnaktsutyun Party (1890–1907). In Russ.]. In History of National Political Parties of Russia. Moscow, ROSSPEN publ., 1997, pp. 169–180.
Piyashev, N. F. Vorovsky. [In Russ.]. Moscow, Molodaya gvardiya publ., 1959, 301 p.
Tammistu, K. I. Pod vspolokhi molnii: o zhizni i deyatel’nosti Ya. Anvel’ta [Under the Flashes of Lightning: About the Life and Work of J. Anvelt. In Russ.]. Moscow, Politizdat publ., 1989. 270 p.
Toguleva, A. D. Belaruskaya satsyyalіstychnaya gramada: prablemy utvarennya і palіtychnai dzeinastsі [Belarusian Socialist City: Problems of Food and Nutrition. In Belarus.]: dis. … kand. istoricheskikh nauk. Minsk, 1996, 118 p.
Turonak, Yu. Vatslau Іvanouskі і adradzhen’ne Belarusі [Vaclav Ivanovskiy and the Independence
of Belarus. In Belarus.]. In Youth. 1994. No. 8–9. URL: https://pawet.net/library/history/bel_history/
turonak/02/вацлаўіваноўскііадражденнеБеларусі.html (дата обращения: 14.07.2025).