Public Projects for Organizing Zemstvo Self-Government in Siberia during the Pre-Duma Period (based on the Materials of the Siberian Periodical Press)

The article examines the essence and content of discussions on the problem of the introduction of zemstvo self-government in Siberia in the period 1904-1906 (before the beginning of the work of the First State Duma).The research is based on materials from the leading Siberian periodicals of the period under review, as well as on projects of the Siberian public.The paper considers the main established approaches to the problems of the expediency of establishing zemstvo institutions in Siberia, the territorial organization of zemstvo self-government (including the establishment of a Siberian-wide zemstvo and a small zemstvo unit), as well as the concept of forming a zemstvo electoral system.The main arguments in favor of the need to establish zemstvos in the provinces and regions of Siberia are highlighted.The article shows the controversy surrounding the inclusion of certain Siberian regions among the territories with zemstvo self-government.The role of natural, geographical and spatial factors in substantiating the need to introduce a small zemstvo unit is considered.The connection in individual projects is indicated between the issue of reform of peasant self-government and the establishment of a small zemstvo unit.The arguments of supporters and opponents of the organization of zemstvo elections on the basis of electoral qualification or universal suffrage are characterized.It is shown that the proposals to use a tax qualification instead of a land qualification were caused by the peculiarities of the estate composition of the inhabitants of Siberia, the absence of local nobility, as well as the need to introduce representatives of the local intelligentsia into the electorate.