‘A Democrat by Mistake’: Political Activity of Anton Kartashev during the Russian Civil War

Abstract

The article focuses on the analysis of political activity of the outstanding theologian Anton Kartashev during the Russian Civil War. Being a member of the Central Committee of the Constitutional Democratic Party and an active member of the All-Russian National Center, he played a significant role in the organization of the White movement in Northwestern Russia. The article covers in detail his activities in the Political Conference under General Nikolai Yudenich and reveals his role in the recognition of independence of Finland and Estonia. The author considers A. Kartashev’s personal qualities which prevented him from becoming a true leader of the antiBolshevik movement. Defending the principle of military dictatorship, during the Civil War Anton Kartashev evolved from Christian liberalism into Orthodox conservative beliefs.

Keywords

• russian civil war
• constitutional democratic party
• white movement
• intervention
• finland
• estonia