Historiography of the Landlord Village in Belarus Inventory Reform (1844–1857): Changes in Scientific Paradigm

Abstract

The article concludes that the inventory reform assessment is dependent on the prevailing attitude to the abolition of the serfdom reform found in the scientific community. The reform of 1861 was interpreted as a desperate measure caused by the threat of peasant revolts, whereas the inventory reform was seen as the last attempt at preserving serfdom. After the reform of 1861 had been recognised as the outcome of consistent measures taken by the Russian government to abolish serfdom, the inventory reform “turned” into the preparatory stage of freeing peasants.