Notes

ADD TO CONCLUSION- In general reforms for the Tsars were from resistance by the population (bottom up) while for the Communists reforms were from the authority of the rulers over their subjects (top down)

In terms of central and local Government once again the Tsars were often forced to implement changes to the structure of both Central and Local Government due to external pressures, while the Communists were often able to implement reforms to the nature and structure of both local and central Government at will, in efforts to further their personalised and repressive rule. For instance Nicholas II introduced key political changes under the 1905 October Manifesto, his blueprint for a new form of elective Government, which introduced the Dumas and subsequently created a different kind of political structure along with the Fundamental Laws of 1906. Under this new structure, although there was some continuity with the Senate, Council of Ministers and State Council (previously named the Imperial Council of State) remaining in existence, the Dumas were introduced as the elected lower chamber, with people elected from a variety of different social groups coming together to discuss State affairs. This therefore was a key change in the nature of Central Government, however once again was a change not introduced due to the will of Nicholas II, with this change instead coming about in an attempt to appease opposition who demanded Constitutional reform, with increased pressure for change mounting after the disastrous 1904 to 1905 Russo-Japanese War, and subsequent year of revolution in 1905 under which key political figures were assassinated, workers massacred during Bloody Sunday and where various strikes and naval mutinies were conducted. In addition previous to this Alexander II created a new form of Central Government, changing the structure which had remained in place since the beginning of the 19th Century through the addition of a new branch (the Committee of Ministers) in 1861.

However while the Tsars struggled to make willing reforms the Communists were more able to make top down reforms to central Government at will, continuing with the repression that had been used by the Bolsheviks to consolidate their hold on power since the failure of the Provisional Government in October 1917. For instance the Bolshevik Communists introduced a new Constitution in July 1918, which eventually resulted in the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic), and established the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets. However reforms in this area by the Bolsheviks originally were not made out of will, showing a nod back to the reforms of the Tsarist era, as to avoid opposition a Constituent Assembly was formed and elected, however this unwilling reform was only temporary as after the Bolsheviks failed to win a majority the Assembly was disbanded a day later by Lenin. From then onwards reforms by the Communists were made out of a genuine desire to reform, with a new Central Government Structure created by the Bolsheviks, before Stalin once again created a new Central Government Structure centring on the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In addition to introducing another new central Government Structure Stalin increased the size of the USSR, willingly allowing countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova to join the USSR. Overall therefore in terms of Central and Local Government once again the Tsars had reforms forced upon them due to increasing pressure for change and the external circumstances and events surrounding their reign, while the Communists were able to willingly implement reforms which helped them consolidate their power over Russian Government.