This coursebook covers Paper 3, HL option 4: History of Europe, Topic 12: Imperial Russia, Revolution and the Establishment of the Soviet Union (1855-1924) of the History for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma syllabus for first assessment in 2017. Tailored to the requirements of the IB syllabus, and written by an experienced examiner and teacher it offers authoritative and engaging guidance through the tsarist autocracy in Russia, the revolutions of 1917, the Civil War and Lenin's rule.

Chapter 1. Introduction; Chapter 2. Alexander II reform and the emancipation of the serfs 1855-61: 2.1. Why is Alexander II associated with the 'modernisation' of Russia?; 2.2. Why did modernization demand the emancipation of the serfs?; 2.3. How was emancipation carried out and how did this change Russia?; Chapter 3. Alexander II's subsequent reforms and their impact 1861-81: 3.1. How, and with what success, did the regime address the need for further modernisation in the empire?; 3.2. Was there a conservative reaction in the later years of Alexander II's rule?; Chapter 4. Alexander III (1881-1894) and Nicholas II (1894-1917): modernisation, repression and the growth of opposition to 1904: 4.1. What was the nature of tsardom under Alexander III and Nicholas II?; 4.2. What attempts were made at modernisation?; 4.3. Why and how did opposition movements grow?; Chapter 5. The 1905 revolution and its aftermath: 5.1. What was the significance of the Russo-Japanese War?; 5.2. What brought about the 1905 revolution?; 5.3. How successful was Stolypin in bringing about change in Russia from 1906?; 5.4. What was Russia like in 1914?; Chapter 6. The impact of War and the revolutions of 1917: 6.1. What was the impact of the First World War on Russia?; 6.2. Why did revolution break out in February 1917?; 6.3. Why were the Provisional Government and Dual Power overthrown in October 1917?; 6.4. What roles did Lenin and Trotsky play in the events of 1917?; Chapter 7. Lenin's Russia 1917-24: 7.1. How did the Bolsheviks consolidate power and win the Russian Civil War?; 7.2. Why was War Communism introduced in 1918 and replaced by the NEP in 1921?; 7.3. To what extent did the new Soviet state rely on terror and coercion?; 7.4. What was the relationship between Bolshevik Russia and the rest of the world?; Chapter 8. Exam practice; Further Reading; Index.