Zemstvo

The Zemstvo was a local self-government institution in Russia from 1864 to 1917, established to administer rural areas. Comprised of elected representatives, it handled local issues such as schools, roads, health services, and welfare. The system aimed to decentralize authority and improve governance outside major cities. Zemstvos allowed rural communities some political participation, though their powers were limited by the central government. They played a significant role in local administration and social development during late Imperial Russia, reflecting efforts to modernize and reform the country's governance structure before the revolutionary period.