To what extent do you agree with this view on Russia's 19th Century industrialization"

During the 19th century, Russia was an immense power. However, it had fallen behind the industrial developments of countries in Western Europe, as it was still a peasant state. Alexander III with Sergei Witte, in the 1880s, instigated an industrialization program, which would hopefully lead to a major alteration of society. It created many financial, social, economic and political changes.

There were many positive impacts of Witte's work. As minister of finance, he appreciated that Russia lacked the finance for industrialization, and therefore assisted with the huge financial expansion during the late 19th Century. Witte pioneered the trans-Siberian railway project, which he considered vital for the long-term economic development of Russia. High taxes and tariffs were imposed in order to reduce imports, to force...