“Special Advantages” of the State Civil Service in Siberia

Abstract

The Siberia and the Far East accretion and their further incorporation into the Empire were accompanied by the need for the administration and management of the accreted territories. Professional, socially stable managers of various levels, prepared for long-term service in the sparsely populated, economically backward suburbs of the country were required by the authorities. The purpose of this article is to summarize and analyze the legal framework regulating the civil service in Siberia and to identify its features and implementation.

The archived materials of the Russian state historical archive and state archives of the Irkutsk region, as well as the legislation of the Russian Empire made the basis for the study. The analysis of historical sources has made it possible to identify several legal and regulatory acts that enshrine the special advantages of civil service in Siberia. The authors noted the financial rewards, reduced terms of service, and accelerated promotion to have been the particular benefits. Representatives of the city estate were admitted to public service in Siberia, which was contrary to the imperial rules. The authors conclude that despite the special benefits establishment and financial awards for the service in Siberia the staffing problem remained unsolved. The legislation was more concerned with the national and the ruling elite interests than with the welfare of officials. Clerical and lower official ranks could not take advantage of the material advantages of the Siberian service. In general, the government’s policy towards Siberian bureaucracy was based on a desire to attract and retain people in the civil service through various types of privileges and benefits, which did not prove effective in practice.