Jewish Liberal Politics in Tsarist Russia, 1900-14 The Modernization of Russian Jewry

Examines the politics of Jewish liberals in Russia, who were either members of the liberal Constitutional Democratic Party (Kadets) or supported its political program. Focuses on activists who in 1905 founded the first Russian-Jewish political organization embracing Zionists, Nationalists, Liberals, and non-party-affiliated socialists - the Union for the Attainment of Full Rights for the Jewish People in Russia (in short, Soyuz Polnopraviya). Discusses the struggle for legal emancipation, abolition of the Pale of Settlement, modernization of Jewish society, and improvement of the Jewish lot through educational and cultural activities. Ch. 5 (pp. 110-135), "The 'Dark Years' after Stolypin: Anti-Semitism, Co-operation and the Peak of 'Organic Work', " describes how from 1911 to 1914 the failure to effect changes through the legislature and the government's increasing hostility toward Jews caused a shift in liberal politics from parliamentary activity to "organic work" - a reform program for the Jewish community. The outbreak of World War I put an end to Jewish liberal political activities.