Abstract
The paper considers how Russian public opinion on the Russia involvement in the war changed - from indifference before the beginning of the war in 1914 with further exhalation of patriotic and defensive feelings in the early-war time to growth of antiwar feelings, mutual hatred, and overall malice as war became endless. A sea change in public opinion could be observed in 1915. The comparison between Russia and other warring countries shows that these changes were of an overall character, but they assumed irreversible character much faster in Russia due to its archaic public institutes and social structure. The belated and/or erroneous measures resulted in the declined efficiency of governance which assumed a reactive character.
