Ostrowski’s argument relates to historian George Vernadsky in that Mongol bureaucracy had no consensus on the Russsian princes leadership pattern.(p527) The influence of delayed action led to Russian princes enter into service with the Mongol rulers. According to Karl Wittfogel argument, the Mongol bureaucracy was a time bomb that led to implantation of the Russian concept of leadership.(526)
Apparently, the arguments of Wittfogel and Vernadsky have the unwillingness to validate the ideas that Russian princes borrowed leadership pattern from the Kipchak Khanate. Charles Halperin argument relates to that of Ostrowski in that he considers the Kipchak Khanate leadership as an inspiration to the 14th-century Russian princes.(527) Halperin further adds that the Mongol bureaucracy is a legacy that unifies the Russian land. The Russian princes borrowed a lot of leadership skills and patterns from the Mongol bureaucracy administration. The most sticking characteristic features are administrative structures on tax collection and free trade. (527)
The story gives a hint of the influence of the Mongol on the Western Europe societies. The political system of the Mongol had some similarities of the time on the Western Europe societies and the Eurasian societies. (534) The burden of proof on the argument could be traced to the 14th century where the Kipchak Khanate overwhelmed the political institutions and practices. Although there was no consensus, the influence of Mongols is evident, which led to the reign of service of the Moscow rulers. It is possible to see some similarities of the political convention in the Western European polities, which are as a result of influence from the Mongol administration. Some of the similarities are hereditary leadership, the army structure, and the treasury policies. In addition to similarities in leadership model, the Eurasian societies faced similar problems to that of Mongols administration. The Mongol domination led to interrelation with the Eurasian societies consequently responding to accrued challenges in administration (Ostrowski 530). (530)
- Ostrowski, D. The Mongol Origins of Muscovite Political Institutions.” Slavic Review. 1990; 49(4): 525-542.
