Preparations for the Mining Reform in Russia in the 1860s: European Guidelines and Russian Realities

This article analyzes the activity of two commissions, Mining Commission and Tax Commission, which functioned in 1860s under Ministry Finance to develop a draft reform mining metallurgical legislation Russia. The role various factors affecting decision making by members commissions is clarified, special attention being paid importance international experience. Emphasis placed on views participants discussion regarding prospects private entrepreneurship industry use experience Western European countries addressing issues subsurface resource management, taxes, organization state supervision. It revealed that proposals relied rules institutions already existing Russia, trying give them more look, while categorically rejected not only domestic practices but also if they did comply with current liberal ideas about freedom enterprise. differences their approaches are explained composition commissions. former, composed representatives higher echelons department, based its proposed members’ desire reconcile interests Treasury entrepreneurs. To this end, sought expand opportunities for enterprise preserving professional supervision department. latter commission, mostly represented mine owners, economists, “enlightened bureaucracy,” brought fore resulted commission’s focus complete elimination sectoral governance, was intended lead Depending attitudes Russian reformers development industry, made different choices legal institutional innovations, either accepting or rejecting author concludes choice innovations adoption rejection depended primarily industry—either control without it.