Free Essays on The Alcoholic Empire

The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka and Politics in Late Imperial Russia Patricia Herlihy begins her book with an attention grabbing quote from a Russian temperance priest stating that â€Å"There is nothing in the world worse than drunkenness.† (1) This blunt phrase sets the tone of the book and prepares the reader for an up close and frankly detailed look at the role of alcohol in Russian history in all areas, including the economic, religious, social and political realms. Herlihy explains how all social problems and â€Å"bad things† in general were attributed to alcohol and expounds upon this by looking at how the state, military, church, doctors and the czar all tried to deal with the problem of excessive alcohol consumption. Of those who fought for prohibition and strict limits on alcohol consumption, many believed that the only way for this was through extreme change. Consequently, as vodka was one of the biggest forms of revenue for the Russian government, it was inevitable that this change would be in the form of governmental revol ution. Throughout the book, Herlihy did a good job of showing a wide variety of different viewpoints and stances on alcohol from different social classes, areas and groups of people. This broad overview lent to a better understanding and feeling of the times and a window into the daily lives of the people of Russia. This book also fit nicely into the class’s recent discussions about Nicholas II, and provides some background for events to come, most notably the outbreak of war beginning in 1914. (2) In August 1914, Nicholas II limited the sale of vodka to â€Å"first-class restaurants and clubs† and later extended the ban. (3) This one simple act helped lead to his own political downfall, as well as â€Å"increased deaths from alcohol poisoning, and, most critically, a shortage of grain for foodstuffs.† (4) Although Nicholas II had a significant role in the alcohol disturbance of society, he was not the mai... Free Essays on The Alcoholic Empire Free Essays on The Alcoholic Empire The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka and Politics in Late Imperial Russia Patricia Herlihy begins her book with an attention grabbing quote from a Russian temperance priest stating that â€Å"There is nothing in the world worse than drunkenness.† (1) This blunt phrase sets the tone of the book and prepares the reader for an up close and frankly detailed look at the role of alcohol in Russian history in all areas, including the economic, religious, social and political realms. Herlihy explains how all social problems and â€Å"bad things† in general were attributed to alcohol and expounds upon this by looking at how the state, military, church, doctors and the czar all tried to deal with the problem of excessive alcohol consumption. Of those who fought for prohibition and strict limits on alcohol consumption, many believed that the only way for this was through extreme change. Consequently, as vodka was one of the biggest forms of revenue for the Russian government, it was inevitable that this change would be in the form of governmental revol ution. Throughout the book, Herlihy did a good job of showing a wide variety of different viewpoints and stances on alcohol from different social classes, areas and groups of people. This broad overview lent to a better understanding and feeling of the times and a window into the daily lives of the people of Russia. This book also fit nicely into the class’s recent discussions about Nicholas II, and provides some background for events to come, most notably the outbreak of war beginning in 1914. (2) In August 1914, Nicholas II limited the sale of vodka to â€Å"first-class restaurants and clubs† and later extended the ban. (3) This one simple act helped lead to his own political downfall, as well as â€Å"increased deaths from alcohol poisoning, and, most critically, a shortage of grain for foodstuffs.† (4) Although Nicholas II had a significant role in the alcohol disturbance of society, he was not the mai... Free Essays on The Alcoholic Empire In her book, â€Å"The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka and Politics in Late Imperial Russia† Patricia Herlihy offers an in-depth and comprehensive view into the debilitating effects of Russia’s massive problem with alcoholism. The consequences of alcohol being such an integral part of Russian life are described in detail. Herlihy’s main focus is on the struggle that the Russians faced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the eventual rise and fall of the prohibition act. The source of this struggle was one key impasse: Russian society suffered greatly from alcohol, but the Russian economy depended on it. This book examines the battle between these two forces as well as the reasons that alcohol will never lose. In her examination of the history of alcohol in the Russian empire, Herlihy gives special attention to the period of the â€Å"Vodka Monopoly.† During this period, the state was the only supplier of vodka. This created a major conflict of interest. Vodka consumption rose after the vodka monopoly was implemented. This makes sense since the state stood to gain more funds from more vodka. This is where the hypocrisy of the empire begins: a bureaucratic organization called the Guardianship of Public Sobriety was created to warn people against the evils and dangers of alcohol. Thus, the country’s lone provider of alcohol was the leader in opposing its consumption. Despite the irony, many in the country saw the formation of the Guardianship as an example and formed their own temperance societies. Herlihy spends the majority of her book discussing the efforts of these societies to combat alcohol in the various institutions of Russia. This issue of alcohol is cited a s a cause for numerous social ills by many of the figures in Herlihy’s book. Poverty, crime, illiteracy, and general inferiority are all attached to the Russian’s addiction to alcohol. The military was scrutinized very closely for its alcoholic repu...