How Did Peter The Great Modernize Russia

Peter the Great seemed to be an excellent dictator with an ambition to advance his nation. He was not afraid to pay a heavy price, including the division between the westernized elite and the peasant masses, to transform Russia into a major modern power. Peter’s reforms undeniably have some positive impacts that deserve an appreciation.
Meanwhile, I do not believe that some of Peter’s methods to modernize his people, such as through their appearance and clothing, were necessary or even useful. Forcing Russians to dress like Europeans to modernize them seems like an attempt to confirm a Western’s prejudice of Russian’s backwardness and barbarism while amplifying European’s superiority over all of other cultures. Assuming that this reform was …show more content…
His interests in building human capital and institution would help Russia to grow both during his time and the time that followed his death. By sending people to study to Europe, Peter invested on the human capital of Russia, which would later advance the growth of technology in his nation. Similarly, by establishing both educational and political institutions, Peter built Russia not only for his time but also the …show more content…
On one side, the possible long term impact is an identity destruction with cultural inferiority and slave mentality. On the other side, the possible long term impact is a well-established system of human capital and institution. Both sides are likely to affect Russia, but I am hopeful that a Russian identity to be viewed as equal with a Western European and other cultural identity while the human capital and institution in Russia would combine and develop into a system that benefits everyone. When that happens, the costs of Peter’s reforms might appear to be less