Although this system of land distribution and landlord compensation was poorly planned and even more poorly executed , the abolition of serfdom carried out by alexander ii became the most important of his reforms .
The crimean war led to big domestic reforms , including the abolition of serfdom . Mr putin 's manifesto offers no such radical plans , but calls rather for consolidation in the face of turbulence .
In russian history , it is peter the great and stalin who are considered the great modernisers rather than alexander ii , who abolished serfdom , or mr gorbachev , who opened up the country .
Above all , though , they were written by free men , who did not cringe before the censor , who could call plainly for the abolition of serfdom , say , instead of " the rational allocation of economic forces . " Finally , they were mostly written by herzen , and herzen could really write .