Impact of Public Discourse on Emergence of Social Welfare Institutions during World War I

This article examines the positioning of social issues within Russian public discourse during the First World War. By analyzing the public deliberation surrounding war-related social problems, the authors trace the impact of this discourse on the nascent configuration of Russia’s social welfare institutions. The study draws upon archival materials from the State Duma and State Council, sessions of the Supreme Council for the Relief of Mobilized Families, congresses and conferences of public organizations, as well as records from the Zemstvo Union and the Union of Cities. Methodologically, the research is grounded in deliberative democracy theory, which frames governance as the outcome of dialogue between state authorities and civil society. The analysis reveals that politically engaged segments of Russian society repeatedly addressed the issue of social support for war victims, advocating for modifications to the existing system of relief in order to expand social guarantees. Crucially, the public sphere witnessed the formation of a demand for the recognition of assistance to those affected by the war as a state obligation. The model that emerged envisioned direct relief efforts being administered by local self-governance bodies, supported by state funding. The authors conclude that the procedural formality of this dialogue, and the organizational involvement of state authorities in addressing social problems, indicate a discernible degree of democratization within the political sphere.