About the “Russian Trap” and Backwardness: An Underdeveloped Europe or an Institutional Alternative?

Book reviews: Travin D.Ya. (2021) Why Has Russia Fallen Behind? Saint Petersburg: European University in Saint Petersburg; Travin D.Ya. (2023) Russian Trap, Saint Petersburg: European University in Saint Petersburg.

Abstract

This article reviews two books by Dmitry Travin, which address fundamental questions about the historical development of Russia. It highlights that both the problem of Russia’s backwardness and the concept of the Russian trap are not examined independently but through comparisons with European history. The author frames Russia as a deviation within European civilization, rather than as an alternative social system. The article critically analyzes this perspective
and stresses the incompatibility of key Russian institutions with the rule of law, even in its most rudimentary forms. The analysis suggests that without considering the institutional origins of Russia, specifically the omnipotent institutions of the Horde and their expansionist focus, any explanation of Russia’s historical backwardness is incomplete. The concept of the Russian trap, in the form of a manorial system, should emphasize not serfdom, but rather the absence of personal sovereignty among the elite, who were subject to despotism. Despite the artificial “Europeanization” of Russia, both of Travin’s books are of undeniable value, as they provide a comprehensive overview of European society up until the mid-18th century. Against this backdrop, they also explore several aspects of Russian society during the corresponding periods.