I doubt the Confederacy would have been real democracy, slavery and democracy are incompatible
The Russia economy was industrializing rapidly in the late 19th century though and again from 1907-1914.
Russia's vast size, culture and dependence on leadership from the top meant that this did not happen over night though and it started later than say Britain or America, or even Germany.
So to say it depended on it for success, I would disagree with it simply because Russia's future success depended on moving away from it. However, it is correct to say to that point serfdom was vital to the economy if that makes sense.
Russia had and still has vast resources and the makings of an industrial powerhouse and an economic juggernaut but it has almost always been sabotaged from the top.
