Aleksander Herzen was a major Russian writer and thinker known as the "father of Russian socialism". He is held responsible for creating a political climate leading to the emancipation of the serfs in 1861.

Herzen was a populist writer as he supported the common person's interest and fought against corrupt elites.The rise in populism by 1880 led to a favorable reevaluation of the writings of Herzen, as he reappeared as the heroic creator of the movement. The rights of Serfs made popular by Herzen's exile writings would become the most important issues facing the Russian social structure, Herzen would side with the agrarian collectivist model of social structure. This choice was a direct result from Herzen's experience of the 1848 revolutions whereby he found wealth was concentrated in too few hands despite changing governments.

Alongside populism Herzen will be remembered for his rejection of corrupt government of any political persuasion and support for individual rights. His fascination with Hegelian dialectics in his youth resulted in Herzen rejecting any specific theory or single doctrine dominating his thought. He refused to adopt any single interpretation of life or schematic theory for social well-being and recognised that these theoretical solutions had no positive real-world results. Herzen came to believe the complex questions of society could not be answered and Russians must live for the moment and not a cause, essentially life is a means in itself. Herzen found his solutions to be a dialectic compromise whereby he would remain unattached to any formal doctrine but would embrace values that are common to all. Herzen found greater understanding from not committing himself to one extreme but rather lived impartially and objectively enabling him to equally criticise competing ideologies since inevitably, grand doctrines and master narratives ultimately result in enslavement, sacrifice and tyranny.