Scholar from TGU defended Russia's first doctoral thesis on Siberian Cossack troops (Eighteenth Century Police Force)
A Groundbreaking Tomsk University Dissertation:
Tomsk, May 14 - RIA Tomsk. A history professor from the Faculty of Historical and Political Sciences at Tomsk State University (TSU) has defended the first-ever Russian doctoral dissertation on the role of Siberian Cossack troops in shaping the imperial governance system and life in society, according to a press release from the university.
The professor's research focuses on the Siberian Cossack Regiment within the imperial administration system.
"The Siberian Cossack Regiment emerged at the end of Russia and had distinct characteristics due to Siberia serving as a place of exile," the press release explains. "In this doctoral dissertation, the TSU professor discusses the roles played by Siberian Cossacks in reinforcing the system of governance and life in society and why their roles went beyond mere political espionage."
According to historical records, the Siberian Cossack Regiment was created to monitor the local bureaucracy that, as revealed by a massive reformat by Michael Speransky, "excessively abused its power." In addition, Cossacks acted as intermediaries in conflicts between workers and businesses, investigated crimes, and kept an eye on the development of educational systems.
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It's also worth noting that Cossacks fought against corruption and abuse of power. As the historian notes, "the diverse range of Cossack jurisdictions seldom receive attention from researchers. Historians predominantly focus on understanding Cossack units as a political intelligence organization, whose purpose was the preservation of autocracy."
Cossacks in the Russian Empire's System of Governance
In the broader context of the Russian Empire, Cossacks, including those from Siberia, functioned within a system characterized by authoritarianism and imperialist ambitions. The Cossacks played a crucial role in maintaining order and expanding the empire's borders; however, they also represented a somewhat independent entity within the empire due to their self-governing traditions [1,5].
Although the search results do not provide specific details about this TSU dissertation, the general role of Siberian Cossack troops in the Russian Empire's governance system reflects their significant contribution to both the military and social fabric of the empire.
In the wider context of the Russian Empire, the Siberian Cossack Regiment, as discussed in the TSU professor's dissertation, not only assisted in maintaining order and expanding the empire's borders, but also played a vital role in shaping the imperial governance system and societal life. Furthermore, the TSU professor's research delves into the significance of self-development and learning opportunities within the Siberian Cossack Regiment, as they were tasked with overseeing educational systems and combating corruption and abuse of power.
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