19th-century historians from countries that carried out the partitions , such as 19th-century Russian scholar Sergey Solovyov , and their 20th century followers , argued that partitions were justified , as the Polish -- Lithuanian Commonwealth had degenerated to the point of being partitioned because the counterproductive principle of `` liberum veto '' made decision-making on divisive issues , such as a wide-scale social reform , virtually impossible .
Some , particularly older historians from countries that carried out the partitions , such as 19th century Russian scholar Sergey Solovyov argued that partitions were justified , as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had degenerated to the point of being partitioned because of the counterproductive principle of `` liberum veto '' that made decision-making on divisive issues , such as a wide-scale social reform , virtually impossible .