Factors and characteristics of east Slavic politogenesis

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to the factors and characteristics of East Slavic politogenesis. The role of internal (development of the productive economy, population density, natural environment, ideology) and external (war, distant commerce, cultural diffusion) factors is analyzed by using a multilinear approach. It is shown that on the eve of the formation of the Ancient Russian state, under the harsh natural conditions of Eastern Europe and low population density, the low level of productive economy (especially cottage industry) defined the character of the undeveloped social stratification and potestary institutions of the East Slavs. The geopolitical position at the civilizational fracture zones and the region’s exposure to external invasions were another influence on these processes. With the impact of the internal factors being limited, external factors were crucial in defining the military character of the East Slavic politogenesis. Refs 38.