Final answer:
Both Russia and China experienced significant transformations due to industrialization, leading to social and political issues such as poor living conditions, discontent among the workforce, and revolutionary activity due to the slow pace of political and social reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Industrialization in Russia and China shared similarities in their transformative impacts on society and the economy. Both nations experienced accelerated industrial growth during their respective periods, which led to significant social and political issues. In Russia, industrialization induced problems such as the challenging geography that made infrastructure development difficult, a mostly serf-based population that lacked the artisanal skills necessary for industrial production, and resistance from nobles and peasants afraid of societal changes. Additionally, urbanization led to poor living conditions, rampant disease, and a spread of discontent among the working class.
Russia's push for industrialization began in the early nineteenth century with its entrepreneurs importing equipment for textiles from Britain and later included major investments in transportation infrastructure like railroads and steamships. However, after the defeat in the Crimean War, Russia intensified efforts resulting in the emancipation of the serfs, providing a labor force for factories. By the 1890s, Minister of Finance Sergei Witte's push for railway improvements led to an expansion of the railroad network, allowing access to interior natural resources and contributing to the late blooming industrialization compared to western Europe.
However, the slow pace of political and social change in response to industrialization sparked revolutionary fervor, with anarchists and other potential reformers demanding immediate changes. Anarchists, in particular, advocated for the elimination of all forms of top-down control, believing in the natural cooperativeness of humanity to organize society. These conditions set the stage for political upheavals and eventually, revolution in Russia.