Preface -- Introduction -- Facing west : Peter the Great and his successors -- Roots of the system : Catherine the Great -- Refining the system : Alexander I and Nicholas I -- Engaging the public : Alexander II -- Reasserting authority : Alexander III and Nicholas II -- From revolution to revolution : the Duma period -- Schooling for socialism : revolution to cultural revolution -- Retrenchment : Stalin to Chernenko -- Ends and beginnings : Gorbachev to Putin -- Conclusion.