Before the Storm: Russia

Some students (well, one or two) have been clamoring for Russian history. Well, we're almost there, and once we get there, we don't leave (almost all of the "short twentieth century"--1914-1991 is influenced by Russia in one way or another).

(Above: monument to Czar Nicholas I on St. Isaac's Square, St. Petersburg)

Before we get to the Reds, however, consider this FRQ from the 2006 exam:

In the period 1815-1900, political liberalization progressed much further in western Europe than in Russia. Analyze the social and economic reasons for this difference.

What three topics would you use in a thesis statement to answer this question? You might want to read ahead in Spielvogel, keeping in mind that we have not yet discussed Russia in the fin de siecle.