If not for their political antagonism, resolving the agricultural crisis would have been very simple. A few grain-exporting nations could coordinate, raise grain prices together, divide up their respective export quotas, and all the problems would be solved.
That was how OPEC operated in later generations. To avoid cutthroat competition, everyone deliberately controlled oil production, safeguarding the interests of all member states.
Unfortunately, Prussia, Poland, and the Russian Empire had become sworn enemies. The Tsarist Government could never agree to reconciliation.
This was a matter of principle. Even when Alexander III, that pacifist, took the throne, he could not compromise on this issue.
The Russian people could tolerate defeat, but they could not tolerate bowing their heads. The Russian Empire had risen and grown strong on that unyielding refusal to admit defeat. If that fighting spirit leaked away, the Russian Empire would be finished.
To reach that point, they would have to suffer several consecutive defeats. This made it impossible for the Tsarist Government to bow to Prussia and Poland. If they dared compromise, revolution would surely erupt at home.
The Tsarist Government had not collapsed after its defeat in the First Prusso-Russian War. Aside from Austria's support, it was also because of the political legacy left by Nicholas I: an army loyal to the Tsar ensured the stability of the regime.
Alexander II was no ordinary man. After the war's defeat, he acted decisively, using the opportunity to purge a batch of parasites from the government, curb the arrogance of the conservatives, and lay the foundations for reform.
After the agricultural crisis broke out, Austria appeared to suffer the greatest losses, but the true biggest loser was still the Russian Empire.
Austria was indeed the largest grain exporter, but much of what it exported was processed grain, whose industrial