Russia’s Problem is a Pattern

The fact that the abolition of serfdom in Russia didn’t really change the landscape of the country is evidence of a greater theme in Modern European History I have noticed.  Socioeconomic class is something that has changed very little over time, although the names for the classes have.  The transformation of English people working on a subplots under the control of a large landowner to the factory worker who was under an equally oppressive boss is simple a change in location and title.  In Russia, serfdom was abolished, but the serfs were simply transformed into impoverished land tenants that might have even gotten it worse off than their early life.  On one hand, I think that the pattern of socioeconomic stagnation could be countered with the fact that there were people who moved up in the world, but I think this argument doesn’t really apply to what I am talking about.  Sure some people moved up, but the relationship between the ruling class and the working class has never changed, even though both the ruling and the working class have changed locations or have gone through periods of supposed reform.  I think this pattern is evidence of an even larger pattern, which is the fact that human beings are naturally inclined to breaking into two groups, those who lead and wield power, and those that follow.