Batishchev S.D. (Severouralsk). Pre-revolutionary “Mining Journal” in post-Soviet historiography: the main directions of study
SERGEY DMITRIEVICH BATISHCHEV
Independent Researcher
624480, Severouralsk, Russia,
e-mail: batischew.sergey2015@yandex.ru
Abstract. In 2025, the anniversary is celebrated by one of the leading scientific journals in the field of mining and related areas – “Mining Journal.” It turned 200 years old. Since 1825, from the moment of its foundation to the present day, it has been in the center of attention of representatives of the mining community: mining engineers, mine surveyors, geologists, etc. Throughout this long historical period of time, it remains an important source of information for mining theorists and practitioners, since its pages publish the most relevant research in this area. The anniversary date actualizes the study of the history of this publication. This article provides a brief historiographic overview of the main publications of modern researchers who either directly study the history of the journal in the pre-revolutionary period, or actively use the publications of the Mining Journal in their scientific studies. On this basis, all publications identified by us were divided into two conditional directions or groups. From this breakdown it can be seen that publications of the second direction (historiographic) prevail, while the first direction (historical) is represented by a relatively small number of articles.
Keywords: “Mining Journal,” historiography, anniversary, modern research, mining
Kozhukhova I.A., Samorodov D.P. (Ufa). Terrorism in the Russian Empire: Main Trends and Research Directions
IRINA ALEKSANDROVNA KOZHUKHOVA
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Administrative and Legal Disciplines of UYUI MIA of Russia, Ufa Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (UYUI MIA of Russia),
450103, Muksinova str., 2, Ufa
e-mail: 89373601606@mail.ru
DMITRY PETROVICH SAMORODOV
Chief Researcher at SF UUNiT,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor
Sterlitamak Branch of Ufa University of Science and Technology (SF UUST),
453103, 49 Lenin Ave., Sterlitamak
e-mail: d.p.samorodov@struust.ru
Abstract. The publication analyzes the main stages and trends of the historiographical study of terrorism in the Russian Empire. It examines the works of domestic and foreign researchers representing various methodological approaches: from Marxist interpretation to psychohistorical analysis, conspiracy theories, and new directions focused on the study of state counteraction to terrorism. The main research directions, contributions of individual scholars (O.V. Budnitsky, A. Geifman, A.A. Bakaev, etc.), and key debatable issues related to the causes, forms, ideology, and consequences of terrorist activities in the Russian Empire are identified.
The necessity of an integrated approach to the study of this problem is argued, taking into account both socio-political and cultural-psychological factors. A growing interest in studying the activities of state authorities in combating terrorism is noted, including methods of political investigation and law enforcement systems. It is emphasized that modern historiography continues to be influenced by ideological stereotypes, and there are tendencies towards simplified interpretations, manifested both in liberal condemnation and apologetics of state actions.
The study examines the main problems of researching the topic, including insufficient elaboration of aspects of nationalist terrorism in the imperial outskirts, ideological bias in historiographical assessments, contradictions in methodological approaches, weak coverage of issues related to state counteraction to terrorism, and the need for interdisciplinary research methods.
The presented material is supported by an analysis of a wide range of scientific works, dissertation research, and periodical publications, as well as archival sources and documentary collections.
Keywords: historiography, Russian Empire, state counteraction, political investigation, terrorism, nationalist terror, populism, Socialist Revolutionaries, revolutionary movement
Dolgova T.A. (Saratov). Destined to Defeat: the Gn. Pompey Magnus Group before the Beginning of the Civil War
TATYANA ALEKSEEVNA DOLGOVA
3rd year postgraduate student, assistant, Institute of History and International Relations Department of Ancient History, Saratov State University,
410012, 83 Astrakhanskaya Street, Saratov.
Researcher at the research laboratory “Center for the Comprehensive Study of Regional Security Problems” of the Research Department, Pskov State University.
180000, 6 Leon Pozemsky Street, Pskov.
e-mail: dolgova-tyan@yandex.ru
Abstract. The article is devoted to the political activities of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus in the 50s BC up to the beginning of the civil war in January 49 BC. The article analyzes his connections among aristocrats and leading politicians, and his actions against former supporters. Special attention is paid to Pompey’s relations with the Metellian clan, the unsuccessful consulate of his supporter Lucius Afranius, the motives for the creation of the first triumvirate, as well as the circumstances that led to the political crisis of the end of the decade. The Senate turned to Pompey and his influence increased markedly. At the same time, tension was growing over the issue of Caesar’s authority in Gaul. The article traces the development of events and the steps of Roman politicians, which resulted in the civil war. Compared to Caesar, who managed to rally supporters around himself and create a personally loyal army during the Gallic campaigns, it becomes obvious that Pompey did not take similar actions. The author concludes that Pompey was not preparing for an armed confrontation, and his political activities were focused on creating new connections within the elite, rather than maintaining the old ones.
Keywords: the history of ancient Rome, the Last Republic, civil war, Pompey, Caesar, pompeians, the first triumvirate
Mukhin M.A. (Rostov-on-Don). Fish instead of Sheep: the Commercialisation of Land Relations in the Shetland Islands in the 18th Century
MAKSIM ANDREYEVICH MUKHIN
Candidate of Historical Sciences, lecturer
Southern Federal University
344006, Pushkinskaya street., 140, Rostov-on-Don
e-mail: mmuhin@sfedu.ru
Abstract. The study, based on reports from priests, analyzes the commercialization of land relations in the Shetland Islands in the 18th century. It reveals a remarkable similarity between the development of sheep farming in the Highlands and fishing in Shetland. Both regions experienced the formation of a free land market, the destruction of the traditional social structure, and the decline of previous economic practices. As in the Highlands, land in Shetland became an investment asset. However, the driving forces of modernization were different industries: sheep farming in the Highlands and fishing on the islands. This allows the Shetland Islands to be considered an alternative model of commercialization, based on the fishing industry. On the archipelago, landowners sought to maximize rental income paid in fish and leased plots to the maximum number of tenants. The subsequent resale of the fish yielded income several times higher than the nominal rental value. The resulting economic model became a driver of further change. Plots of land began to be granted to people “of bad character” if they were skilled fishermen. Growing labor demand led to demographic changes: the archipelago’s population grew (from 15,210 to 22,379 people), and bachelorhood became rare. A consequence of the subdivision of land plots was that agriculture lost its ability to provide the population with food, forcing residents to engage in multiple occupations.
Keywords: Shetland, 18th century, commercialization of land, social transformation. Highland
Vagabova E.R. Gizi (Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan). The Establishment of a Military-sports Committee in Baku in the Context of the Mobilization Activities of the Russian Empire during the First World War
ESMIRA RAGIM GIZI VAGABOVA
Doctor of Philosophy in History, Associate Professor,
Leading Researcher of the Department “World History”
of the Institute of History and Ethnology named after
A. A. Bakikhanov of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan
AZ1073, Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, G. Javid Ave., 115.
e-mail: Esmira.Vahabova@mail.ru
Аbstract. Based on the involvement of a wide range of diverse sources, introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the article highlights the issue of creating a military sports committee during the First World War, unexplored in domestic historiography. The author analyzes the decrees and regulations on pre-conscription and mobilization training issued in 1910-1916 for the purpose of manning the army, focusing on measures to develop a system of physical education. The measures taken were determined both by the defeat of the army during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, and by Russia’s unsuccessful performance at the V Olympic Games in Stockholm (Sweden, from July 6 to July 27, 1912). The First World War, which began in 1914, exposed all the shortcomings of the Russian army, which included the unsatisfactory state of affairs in the field of physical training of conscripts. The article examines the “Regulations on the mobilization of sports”, on the basis of which the authorities began to organize military sports committees at educational institutions in the city of Baku. In an attempt to reveal the policy of state institutions in the field of mobilization of pre-conscription training of persons in educational institutions, in fact, lies the purpose and scientific novelty of this article.
Keywords: Baku, military sports committee, World War I, Major General V.N. Voeikov, militarization of sports, Baku educational institutions
Sorokin S.A. (Moscow). The Specificity of the Concept of “Scientific Intelligentsia” in the Context of the History of Czechoslovakia in the Mid-20th Century
SERGEY ALEXEEVICH SOROKIN
Postgraduate Student, Department of History of the Southern and Western Slavs
Faculty of History, Lomonosov Moscow State University
119234, Moscow, Lomonosovsky Prospect, 27, building 4
e-mail: sorokin1998-28@mail.ru
Abstract. The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the specificity of the concept of “scientific intelligentsia” within the context of the political transformations in Czechoslovakia in the mid-20th century. The author examines in detail the formation, ideological evolution, and political role of the left-wing intellectual elite that embraced communist ideals after World War II. Central attention is paid to the period from 1948 to 1968—key decades during which the intelligentsia became actively involved in socio-political life, facing a dilemma between loyalty to the regime and the aspiration for reforms.
The work traces the impact of such pivotal events as the establishment of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (CPC) monopoly, the exposure of Stalin’s personality cult at the 20th Congress of the CPSU, and the attempts to build “socialism with a human face” during the Prague Spring. The author identifies several strategies of survival and resistance adopted by the scientific intelligentsia following the invasion by Warsaw Pact troops and the onset of “normalization”: open dissent, emigration, and forced compromise with the authorities, expressed through a retreat into apolitical scientific topics. Special emphasis is placed on analyzing the ideological contradictions within the intellectual community, its role in the formation of opposition movements (such as Charter 77), and the profound influence of the Soviet model of socialism on the scientific and academic environment of Czechoslovakia.
The research is based on a wide range of sources, including the works of Czechoslovak reformers, archival materials, and contemporary historiography, enabling the author to reveal the tragic fate of the intelligentsia as both a victim and a driving force of the political processes of the era.
Keywords: scientific intelligentsia, Czechoslovakia, communist regime, Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, CPC, Stalinism, Prague Spring, normalization, Soviet influence, dissident movement, Charter 77, ideology, socialism with a human face, intellectual opposition, reforms, political repressions
Korunova E.V. (Moscow). From Nuclear Ambitions to Voluntary Renunciation: the Swedish Nuclear Program During the Cold War (1945–1970)
EVGENIIA VALERYEVNA KORUNOVA
Deputy Head of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of the Faculty of History Lomonosov MSU,
Associate Professor of Lomonosov Moscow State University
Candidate of Historical Sciences,
119992, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, 27, building 4, Moscow,
e-mail: ekorunova@yandex.ru
Abstract. In light of the destabilization of the global security system and the erosion on international legal institutions, the issues of arms control and nuclear non-proliferation are gaining renewed relevance. In this context, the historical experience of states that reached a «threshold» status in the nuclear field but voluntarily renounced the development of weapon of mass destruction is of particular scientific and practical interest.
The case of Sweden holds special value as a historical example of a small state that possessed the full range of prerequisites for creating nuclear weapons: advanced scientific and technical potential, a developed industrial base, and significant deposits of uranium ore. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of national nuclear program, so called the «Swedish line», which conceded with the period of bipolar confrontation and the Cold War. The study focuses on the central contradiction between Sweden’s military-strategic interests, aimed at ensuring national security, and its non-aligned status, which necessitated strict adherence to the principles of neutrality. The complex of factors that explain the Swedish governments’ decision to abandon the military component of the program is examined in detail: the economic burden, technological constraints, foreign policy pressure from the superpowers, and a commitment its socio-oriented model of development. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the diplomatic aspects and the domestic political discourse, which culminated in the accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1968 and the subsequent termination of the «Swedish line».
Keywords: Sweden, non-aligned status, Swedish nuclear weapons program, nuclear power, arms race, Cold War, national security, Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Lapina I.Yu., Kargapoltsev S.Yu. (St. Petersburg). Afghanistan after the Withdrawal of Soviet Troops and the Failure of the National Reconciliation Policy (1989–2025)
IRINA YURIEVNA LAPINA
Head of the Department of History and Philosophy of SPbGASU,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Ingineering (SPbGASU),
190005, 2nd Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 4, St. Petersburg
e-mail: clio@spbgasu.ru
SERGEY YURIEVICH KARGAPOLTSEV
Candidate of Historical Sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work and Law of SPbGUPTD,
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technology and Design (SPbGUPTD)
190068, St. Petersburg, Voznesensky Prospekt, 44-46
e-mail: s_karg@mail.ru
Abstract. The article analyzes the circumstances of the further development of the civil war in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops in February 1989. The authors establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the perestroika carried out in the USSR and the policy of national reconciliation in the Republic of Afghanistan, as well as the collapse of the USSR, on the one hand, and the fall of the regime of Mohammad Najibullah under the blows of the mujahideen, on the other. The authors describe the subsequent stages of military and political chaos in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the invasion of its territory by the opposing Taliban and Americans. They identify the systemic characteristics of Americanism as neocolonialism and expansionism. The conclusion is made about the direct influence of these events on the escalation of tensions in the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East (Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Israel). Attention is drawn to the personal responsibility of politicians from the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation, the United States, Afghanistan and other countries for the development of the situation in this country. It is emphasized that the rise of the mujahideen government to power in Afghanistan did not bring political or economic stability to the country. Their victory only exacerbated many negative aspects of Afghan life, heightening domestic instability.
Keywords: Afghanistan, USSR, Russian Federation, Mohammad Najibullah, M.S. Gorbachev, B.N. Yeltsin, Ahmad Shah Massoud, mujahideen, Taliban, USA, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria
Pankrat I.A. (Moscow). The Internal Colonization of the Volga Patrimonies of Moscow and Moscow-region Monasteries in the mid-18th Century
IVAN ALEKSEEVICH PANKRAT
Specialist of the 1st category of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts
119435, Moscow, Bolshaya Pirogovskaya St., 17
e-mail: ipancrat99@gmail.com
Abstract. The 17th century saw the forming of five patrimonies (volosts) along the right bank of the Volga between Simbirsk and Saratov. They belonged to the largest monasteries of Moscow and Moscow region, such as the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, the Chudov Monastery, the Novospassky Monastery, the Ascension Convent and the Novodevichy Convent. The scholars have studied the initial settlement of these estates in the late 17th century, but their internal colonization of the next century has been ignored by historians.
This article deals with the features of the colonization in the Volga monastic estates between the mid-1740s and the early 1760s. For each of the five volosts, the author analyzes the number of settlers, their percentage of the total population, the percentage of settlers from other places. By that time, a significant part of volosts’ inhabitants was subordinated to the palace, so the author compares data on both monastic and palace peasants.
The quantitative analysis is based on the revision lists (revizskiye skazki) of the third revision, and their information has been formalized in electronic database and geographical map. The author discovers that the intensity and directions of colonization flows in all five volosts differed significantly. For each of the volosts, it can be explained by differences in their size, location, social composition of the population and economic specialization.
Keywords: colonization of new lands, agrarian colonization, migrations, Middle Volga region, Simbirsk Uyezd, monastic estates, monastic peasants, revision lists (revizskiye skazki)
Milovidov B.P. (St. Petersburg). Marquis Giuseppe Terzi in Russian Captivity in 1812–1814: Social Connections and Informal Communications
BORIS PAVLOVICH MILOVIDOV
Junior researcher, St. Petersburg Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences
Chief Specialist, Russian State Historical Archive (St. Petersburg).
197110, Russia, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodskaya st., 7
e-mail: milbp@yandex.ru
Abstract. The article, based on the correspondence of the Italian Marquis Giuseppe Terzi, who was captured by the Russians in 1812, and other sources, shows how prisoners of war of the Grand Army, who found themselves in a new and alien social environment, integrated into a complex system of social communications. This system made it possible to adapt to an unfamiliar social reality and provided informal contacts with the motherland. This system was determined by the prisoner‘s social and professional status, his connections to the Russian elite, and the support of his compatriots living in Russia. Using these connections, the aristocrat G. Terzi received permission to live in St. Petersburg, was accepted into high society, and even married Princess E. M. Golitsyna. Terzi received the help of Italians living in Russia: G. Quarenghi, G. P. Litta, J. de Mestre, A. Serra-Capriola. He had access to unofficial, both institutionalized (banking houses, diplomatic mail) and private (services of high-ranking officials) channels of correspondence and receiving money from his homeland.
Keywords: The Patriotic War of 1812, Italians in Russia, prisoners of war, social communications, correspondence of prisoners of war, informal communications, banking houses, G. Terzi, G. Quarenghi, P. A. Golitsyna
Fan-Yung G.Yu. (Kazan city). Pyrites as one of the Most Important Resources of Raw Materials for the Domestic Chemical Industry in the XIX-th – early XX-th Centuries
GERMAN YURIEVICH FAN-YUNG
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines of the Volga Region State University of Physical Education, Sports and Tourism, 420010, Russian Federation, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, territory of the Universiade Village, 35,
e-mail: ger-fan-yung@yandex.ru
Abstract. The transition from the agricultural stage of society’s development to an industrial stage required not only technical re-equipment of industry but also a reduction in production costs. Abandoning sulfur imports and transitioning to pyrites mined in Russia significantly reduced the dependence of the domestic chemical industry on foreign imports and reduced production costs. This article attempts to analyze the role of chemistry, particularly sulfuric acid production, in the industrial revolution and the importance of pyrites in this process. The introduction of pyrites as a crucial raw material for sulfuric acid production in the industrial era is essential for the future development of Russia’s industry. The author explains the main reason for the shift in the main sub-branch of the domestic chemical industry from sulfur to pyrites in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The article lists the main areas of pyrite extraction and its volumes. It has been shown that the increase in pyrite imports, which are used extensively in domestic sulfuric acid production, serves as indirect evidence of the rapid growth of Russian industry in the early 20th century. The significance of incorporating pyrites into specific chemical sectors, such as those associated with the Ushkovsky Kokshan, Bondyuzha, Baku facilities operated by the Nobel Brothers Partnership, as well as the chemical plants under the management of R. R. Gill and N. V. Lepeshkin, becomes evident. Moreover, data regarding the quantity of pyrite mining and imports for the domestic production of sulfuric acid during this timeframe is provided.
Keywords: industrial revolution, industrial development of Russia, pre-revolutionary chemical industry, pyrites, sulfuric acid production, P.K. Ushkov and Co. Partnership, Nobel Brothers Partnership, P.P. Fedotiev, P.M. Lukyanov
Zuev A.V. (St. Petersburg). Historical Development of the Libava Commercial Port (Second Half of the 19th Century – Early 20th Century)
ANDREY VYACHESLAVOVICH ZUEV
Associate Professor the of Private Law Departments of Admiral Makarov
State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping
Associate Professor
Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping
198035, Dvinskaya street., 5/7, St. Petersburg
e-mail: univerandrey@mail.ru
Associate Professor the of the Department of Cultural
History, State and Law of “LETI”
Associate Professor
Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”
197022, Professor Popov street., 5, St. Petersburg
e-mail: univerandrey@mail.ru
Abstract. In 1795, the city of Libau, together with the Duchy of Courland, was annexed to the Russian Empire. The port of Libau, compared to other ports of the Baltic Sea, was relatively young. The question of improving the port of Libau arose in the mid-1850s in connection with the design of an exit to an ice-free port of the Baltic Sea by the Main Society of Russian Railways. With the construction of the Libau-Romny Railway, the port’s cargo turnover increased almost fourfold and continued to grow steadily. Coal, herring, salt, leather, cork, and agricultural implements were imported through the port of Libau. Oats, wool, and forest materials were exported abroad. Such a natural factor as the ice-free nature of the port of Libau allowed exporters to send goods abroad at any time of the year. In terms of the amount of transported goods, the port of Libau occupied third place among the ports of the Baltic coast (after St. Petersburg and Riga). The Russian government allocated significant funds for the development of the Liepaja port. After the completion of all the planned work, the end of which was planned for 1916-1917, the condition of the Liepaja port had to meet all the requirements for commercial ports of that period.
Keywords. Baltic Sea, Libau port, Libau-Romny railway, ports, shipping, merchant shipping, cargo turnover
Bocharov А.А., Aladyshkin I.V. (St. Petersburg). The Marginal and Criminal Aspects of Everyday Life in Petrograd in the First Half of the 1920s in V. Kaverin’s Novel “The End of Khaza” and the Related Film “The Devil’s Wheel”
ALEXEY ALEKSEEVICH BOCHAROV
Candidate of Historical Sciences
Associate Professor of the Higher School of Social Sciences
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
195251, St. Petersburg, Politekhnicheskaya str., 29, lit. B
e-mail: alek.bocharov2014@yandex.ru
IVAN VLADIMIROVICH ALADYSHKIN
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor
Associate Professor at the Higher School of Social Sciences
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
195251, St. Petersburg, Politekhnicheskaya Street, 29, Building B
e-mail: i-bez@yandex.ru
Abstract. The article is devoted to the history of everyday life in Petrograd-Leningrad in the 1920s, which has attracted increasing attention from researchers in recent years. An attempt has been made to introduce into scientific circulation the study of the marginal criminal life of the city of the NEP era based on the novella by V.A. Kaverin “The End of the Khaza” and the related film by G.M. Kozintsev and L.Z. Trauberg “The Devil’s Wheel”. The cultural and historical analysis of the claimed works allows us to conclude that the vivid artistic images of the urban «bottom» of Leningrad are close to a reliable reflection of everyday life’s realities in Petrograd and its criminal world in the first half and mid-1920s. The authors conclude that the film and, especially, the novel can be attributed to those works that serve as a source of knowledge about their time, since the authors were not just witnesses of it, they did not just write and shoot about it, but also tried to study it in their own way for the most contrasting, effective description, without losing artistically-the figurative reliability of representation. The artistic, imaginative and at the same time cultural and historical potential of the novel “The End of the Khaza” and the film “The Devil’s Wheel” help to recreate a multidimensional picture of Petrograd and urban everyday life in the first half of the 1920s. In conclusion, the authors advocate the need for closer attention to fiction and cinema in the context of a comprehensive study of the realities of everyday life in Soviet society in the first post-revolutionary decades.
Keywords: V.A. Kaverin, G.M. Kozintsev, and L.Z. Trauberg, history of St. Petersburg, NEP, history of everyday life, history of the Russian criminal world
Kostiaev E.V., Gribov R.V., Efimova E.A. (Saratov). Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaties of Ukraine and Russia with the Central Powers: the Menshevik View
EDUARD VALENTINOVICH KOSTIAEV
Ph. D, associate Professor, Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov, Professor of the Department of «History and Philosophy»
77 Politechnicheskaya str., Saratov, Russia, 410054
e–mail: edikost@bk.ru
ROMAN VIKTOROVICH GRIBOV
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov,
associate Professor of the Department of «History and Philosophy»
77 Politechnicheskaya str., Saratov, Russia, 410054
e–mail: filos@sstu.ru
ELENA ALEKSANDROVNA EFIMOVA
Candidate of Historical Sciences, associate Professor, Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov, associate Professor of the Department of «History and Philosophy»
77 Politechnicheskaya str., Saratov, Russia, 410054
e–mail: helenn79@mail.ru
Abstract. The article provides a detailed analysis of the theoretical views and practical activities of the representatives of the Menshevik part of the domestic social democracy before and after the signing of peace treaties with Germany and its allies in World War I in Brest-Litovsk in the first months of 1918, first by the Ukrainian People’s Republic and then by Soviet Russia. It was at this time, after the Bolsheviks and Left Socialist Revolutionaries seized power in Petrograd in October 1917, that anti-Russian and anti-Russian, separatist, nationalist tendencies prevailed in Ukraine. In these circumstances, the Mensheviks consistently maintained their position aimed at restoring the unity of Ukraine with Russia. This goal could only be achieved by waging an uncompromising struggle, including armed struggle, for the abolition of the predatory and annexationist conditions of the Brest Peace. It was precisely to such a struggle that the leaders of the Menshevik Party called their like-minded people and supporters – the social democratic proletariat – in 1918. Only the abolition of the Brest-Litovsk treaties and the return of Ukraine to Russia, they claimed, would free our country from the colonial rule of the Austro-German occupiers and strengthen the state independence of Russia and its sovereignty.
Keywords: social democracy, Menshevism, Bolshevism, The Central Rada, Civil War, political struggle, The Brest Peace
Gapsalamov A.R. (Elabuga). Formation of the Party Organization of the Tatar ASSR during the New Economic Policy
ALMAZ RAFISOVICH GAPSALAMOV
Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor,
Associate Professor of the Department of Economics and Management
Elabuga Institute (branch) of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University”
423600, Russia, Republic of Tatarstan, Elabuga, Kazanskaya St., 89.
e-mail: Gapsalamov@yandex.ru
Abstract. The presented research is devoted to the activities of the Tatar party organization during the period of the new economic policy. The article analyzes the evolution of the party organization in the Tatar ASSR, the system of training and retraining of party personnel, its numerical and social composition, and the issues addressed by the party.
The research methodology is based on the principles, approaches, and methods of scientific knowledge. When preparing the materials, the author relied on the principles of historicism, objectivity, and consistency.
The results of the research were an explanation of the reasons for building unique mechanisms and instruments for the functioning of the party, based on the principles of strict hierarchy and administrative subordination of all its members. Foreign and domestic political problems, supplemented by the ongoing civil war, economic and food crisis, necessitated tough measures to retain power. The Bolsheviks influenced not only the party members, but also trade union and Komsomol organizations.
A special place in the article is given to the activities of the party in the Tatar ASSR. The numerical, social and gender composition of the party members is considered, the main issues decided at meetings and congresses, as well as the problems of training and retraining of party personnel are analyzed.
Keywords: communist party, Bolsheviks, party, industry, region, Tatar ASSR, USSR
Smirnov S.V. (Yekaterinburg). The Establishment of the Bureau for Russian Emigrants in the Manchurian Empire and the Struggle in the Political Circles of the Emigration (1934–1935)
SERGEY SMIRNOV
Doctor of History, Associate Professor
Professor, Department of Modern and Contemporary History, Ural Humanities Institute
Ural Federal University
620083, Yekaterinburg, Turgenev str., 4
e-mail: s.v.smirnov@urfu.ru
Abstract. The article is devoted to the confrontation in the political environment of the Russian emigration in the Manchurian Empire during the formation of the Bureau for Russian Emigrants (BREM), which was established in late 1934 in Harbin. The process of uniting Russian emigrants in Manchuria in the first half of the 1930s was characterized by a struggle between various political organizations seeking support from Japanese military and political circles. The emergence of the Bureau was the result of a temporary compromise between the leading political factions of the emigration, which was reached under the control of Japanese military intelligence. Since its establishment, the Bureau has become a battleground for three political factions: the fascists, the supporters of Ataman G. M. Semenov, and the former legitimists. The fascists’ attempts to shift the balance of power in Harbin and along the North Manchurian Railway in their favor in 1935 were unsuccessful. The internal confrontation reduced the effectiveness of the BREM’s work, did not contribute to the growth of its prestige in the eyes of emigrants, and favored the plans of the Soviet special services to disintegrate Russian emigration in Manchudiguo. The publication was prepared on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of modern historiography, as well as taking into account archival documents introduced into scientific circulation for the first time.
Keywords: Bureau for Russian Emigrants in the Manchurian Empire (BREM), All-Russian Fascist Party, Union of Cossacks in the Far East, legitimist movement, Japanese military mission, Harbin, Manchudiguo
Sokirkin D.N. (St. Petersburg). Naval Power as One of the Foundations of Statehood
DMITRY NIKOLAEVICH SOKIRKIN
Associate Professor of the Department of History and Philosophy of SPbGASU,
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor
St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU),
190005, 2nd Krasnoarmeyskaya street., 4, St. Petersburg
e-mail: sokirkin1976@mail.ru
Abstract. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of one of the foundations of statehood – naval power. The definition of sea power is given and its fundamental features are considered. The complex systemic nature of the topic under study is emphasized. On the one hand, certain components of naval power, their features and functions are considered. On the other hand, their relationship is analyzed. The main stages of studying the problems of naval power in the framework of the development of naval theory are traced using the example of the works of A.T. Mahan, H.D. Mackinder and S.G. Gorshkov. A comparative analysis is carried out between the main provisions of these works and the trends of historical development. The influence of naval power on the processes of political, economic and cultural development is emphasized using the example of individual countries. The influence of naval power on the creation of colonial empires by European powers is traced, while considering both political, economic, military-strategic, and cultural aspects of the development of Western countries in Modern times, in the era of Great Geographical Discoveries. The article examines the relationship between the development of Russia as a great land and great sea power. The historical circumstances that led to the conversion, after the formation of the great land power, to the development of the sea, and subsequently the ocean expanses, are given. The Cold War era is indicated as the time when the Soviet Union embarked on the purposeful creation of an ocean fleet capable of solving tasks related to defending the country’s interests in the vast oceans on a global scale.
Keywords: sea power, statehood, World Ocean, navy, Naval doctrine, maritime communications
Fedulov S.V., Tarasov A.V., Sokolov V.V. (St. Petersburg). Political Work in Aviation Units in the Battle for Leningrad
SERGEY VALENTINOVICH FEDULOV
Dr. Sci. (Historical), Professor
of the Department of Humanities and Social and Economic Disciplines
Mozhaisky Military Space Academy,
corresponding member of AVN,
197198, Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Zhdanovskaya street, 13.
e-mail: serg.val.fed.661000@yandex.ru
ALEXANDER VLADIMIROVICH TARASOV
PhD, (Military), Assistant professor,
Head of the Department of Humanities and Social and Economic Disciplines
Mozhaisky Military Space Academy,
197198, Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Zhdanovskaya street, 13,
e-mail: serg.val.fed.661000@yandex.ru
VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH SOKOLOV
research fellow of the Military Institute (R&D),
Mozhaisky Military Space Academy,
197198, Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Zhdanovskaya street, 13
e-mail: serg.val.fed.661000@yandex.ru
Abstract. The role of political work in troops during military operations is undeniable. In this regard, during the Special Military Operation, serious changes have occurred in the work with personnel organization. Therefore, the experience of conducting political work during the Great Patriotic War is especially in demand. The article dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory reveals the main areas of political work in aviation units during the Battle for Leningrad. This work was aimed at forming patriotism, loyalty to military duty, courage and heroism in aviation regiments personnel, maintaining strict military discipline. It was carried out in various forms: political classes with privates and sergeants, military-political training of officers, training of activists. However, the main attention was paid to agitation and propaganda work. For example, the release and distribution of bulletins with the best pilots’ combat experience; the release of radio newspapers, samples of which are presented in the article. In order to organize the leisure of personnel, amateur art reviews were held. All these events were organized and carried out by political workers, who, at the same time themselves took an active part in the battles.
Keywords: Soviet aviation, battle for Leningrad, political work, political activities, military-political training, activists, bulletin, radio newspaper, amateur performance review, political workers
Ulyanova M.A. (Voronezh). “The Enemy Had Superiority…”: Combat Operations of the 13th Army of the Bryansk Front against the 2nd German Field Army during Operation Blau (28.6–11.7.1942)
MARINA ALEKSEEVNA ULYANOVA
Graduate student of the Department of History of Russia,
Voronezh State Pedagogical University.
394043, Russian Federation, Voronezh, ul. Leninа, 86.
e-mail: vspihist@rambler.ru
Abstract. During the German Operation Blau, the goal of which was to seize the strategic initiative in the Great Patriotic War, the 2nd German Field Army, part of the Weichs Army Group, was tasked with securing the northern flank of the offensive on Voronezh. Its 55th Army Corps, together with the left-flank units of the 4th Tank Army, solved this problem by developing an offensive in the Livny direction, where the 13th Army of the Bryansk Front was defending itself. Having concentrated a large number of tank, motorized, infantry units and significant air forces, the enemy achieved multiple superiority and on June 28, 1942, went on the offensive, delivering the main blow at the junction of the 13th and 40th armies. The defense of the Bryansk Front was broken through and the enemy rushed to Kastornoye, Voronezh and Stary Oskol. However, the 13th Army held its ground and basically held its positions. During two weeks of fighting, during which defensive actions alternated with counteroffensives, the army of Major General N.P. Pukhov managed to bend its left flank and defend Livny. The enemy suffered significant losses, which forced him to switch to a long-term positional defense. The enemy was deprived of the opportunity to remove from this section of the front units and formations that could have been sent to Stalingrad, which served as one of the prerequisites for the upcoming radical turning point in the Great Patriotic War.
Keywords: The Great Patriotic War, Operation Blau, 13th Army, 2nd German Field Army, combat operations
Kruchinskii D.A. (Irkutsk). The Role of Libraries in Shaping the Lifestyle and Cultural Leisure of the Village Population of Lenino in the City of Irkutsk in the 1970s
DMITRII ALEKSANDROVICH KRUCHINSKII
Postgraduate student of the Department of History and Methodology of the Irkutsk State University Irkutsk State University (ISU),
664003, Karl Marx St., 1, Irkutsk
e-mail: dima9aleks9mail@mail.ru
Abstract. The article examines the role and significance of libraries in the village of Lenino, Irkutsk, in shaping the lifestyle and cultural leisure of the population in the 1970s. Particular attention is paid to reading as one of the leading types of free time, as well as the variety of activities of the library: propaganda of socio-political literature, work with technical and popular science literature, aesthetic education, organization of mass events and assistance in self-education. Based on the analysis of reporting documents from the 1970s, it is shown how the library acted not only as a repository of books, but also as a center for educational, upbringing and ideological work. The article analyzes the case of a socialist town, where the library network depended on one main enterprise, an aircraft plant. Libraries interacted with young people, participated in organizing extracurricular activities for teenagers and contributed to the development of social activity. Of particular importance was the interaction of libraries with production teams, workers’ dormitories and trade unions, which made it possible to reach out to wide sections of the population, including young plant workers. Even in the era of increasing urbanization, the libraries of Lenino retained features inherent in past periods, when various events in the library coexisted with lively discussions about books. The analysis shows how a unified cultural environment focused on personal development was formed through a system of book exhibitions, thematic events and meeting evenings. The activities of libraries are considered as part of the general model of the social town, where access to knowledge became a tool for education and unification of the team. Reading practices in Lenino demonstrate flexibility, where there were a large number of different areas of work with different groups of the population, taking into account their age, educational and other characteristics. This was also manifested in “hybrid” formats such as oral journals, in which lectures alternated with poetry readings. It was revealed that libraries played an important role in the dissemination of Marxist-Leninist ideas, the popularization of the achievements of Soviet science and culture, and in the formation of a harmoniously developed personality.
Keywords: library, cultural leisure, Soviet youth, reading, ideological work, Lenino village
Titov S.P. (Moscow). Social-liberal alternative: Yabloko’s parliamentary activities in the State Duma of the second convocation
STEPAN PAVLOVICH TITOV
Postgraduate of the Department of Political movements and parties history of History faculty Moscow State University
119234, Moscow, Lomonosovsky prospelt.,27/4,
e-mail: panyun95@gmail.com
Abstract. This article examines the parliamentary activities of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma of the second convocation. A number of tasks are formulated: to give a brief description of the II Duma as a whole, to consider the position of the Yabloko faction after the elections to the State Duma, to analyze the impact of the 1996 presidential elections on the faction, and to study the impact of the 1998 economic crisis. The State Duma of the second convocation can be characterized as radically anti-government. The majority of seats were won by representatives of the “anti-reform” forces – the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the APR and “People’s Power”. The second feature of the Duma was the formation of a classic party of power – the NDR, which tried to implement the presidential vision in the lower house of parliament. In this situation, Yabloko took both an anti-government and an anti-communist position, defending its social-liberal view of domestic policy. Particular attention is also paid to the 1996 presidential elections, as they were the most important political event of the second half of the 1990s and directly influenced both political actors and ordinary citizens. Yabloko not only nominated its candidate, the leader of the parliamentary faction G.A. Yavlinsky, but also actively tried to influence the elections by improving the electoral legislation. The impact of the 1998 economic crisis and frequent changes of governments on the parliamentary activities of the Yabloko faction is also considered. G.A. Yavlinsky proposed the candidacy of E.M. Primakov for the post of Chairman of the Government, which was approved by the Duma. The article uses a wide range of sources – primarily transcripts of State Duma meetings – and modern scientific literature.
Keywords: State Duma, Yabloko, elections, government, Yavlinsky, economic crisis
Ksenofontov D.D. (Moscow). S. Dorenko’s Information Campaign against the “Fatherland – All Russia” Bloc on the Eve of the 1999 State Duma Elections
DENIS DMITRIEVICH KSENOFONTOV
Postgraduate student of the Faculty of History of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov in the direction of: Russian history;
119234, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, 27, building 4, Moscow, Faculty of History of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov;
e-mail: ksenofontov.d@list.ru
Abstract. The article is devoted to the analysis of the use of information-political technologies during the 1999 State Duma election campaign in the Russian Federation, aimed at discrediting the “Fatherland – All Russia” (OVR) electoral bloc and contributing to the rapid rise in popularity of the “Unity” (“Medved”) electoral bloc. The aim of the study is to identify the specific methods and channels of information influence used to destroy OVR’s image. The research methodology includes a detailed content analysis of television broadcasts, print media materials (“Obshchaya Gazeta”, “Kommersant”) and archival data from public opinion polls. The paper examines in detail the main techniques used against the OVR leaders — Y. Luzhkov, E. Primakov, and V. Yakovlev: creating negative labels, publishing various accusations, as well as breaking sensational news during prime time with subsequent retractions in less prominent media outlets. It is argued that, despite subsequent court victories and retractions, these technologies had an extremely effective impact on public consciousness, which is confirmed by data from opinion polls. The author concludes that the campaign against OVR is a classic example of “black PR” and political manipulation, where the main strategy was the “demonization” of the opponent through personalized attacks, which made it possible to divert voters’ attention from programmatic issues and predetermined the election results.
Keywords: information campaign, 1999 State Duma elections, electoral bloc “Fatherland – All Russia” (OVR), electoral bloc “Unity” (“Bear”), information and political technologies, Sergei Dorenko
Kambulatova Yu.R., Ustyantsev G.Yu. (Moscow). “We See You, You Look Like Us”: Paths to Becoming Modern Urban Shamans
YULIA RUSLANOVNA KAMBULATOVA
PhD student, Department of Ethnology
Lomonosov Moscow State University
119234, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, 27, building 4, Moscow
e-mail: ykambulatova@mail.ru
GERMAN YURIEVICH USTYANTSEV
Candidate of Historical Sciences,
Assistant of the Department of Ethnology, Faculty of History
Lomonosov Moscow State University
119234, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, 27, building 4, Moscow;
Researcher at the N.N. Miklukho-Maclay Institute
of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences
119334, 32a Leninsky Prospekt, Moscow
e-mail: ustyan-93@mail.ru
Abstract. The article examines the phenomenon of modern urban shamanism in Russia, a form of spiritual practice that originated outside traditional ethnic contexts. The shamanic traditions of Siberia and the Far East were actively studied by Soviet and Russian ethnographic authors, who noted the trends of shamanism’s transformation in the context of global culture. Under the influence of the media, popular science and quasi-scientific literature, shamanism expanded beyond its traditional regions in the 1990s and became part of various spiritual and magical practices. This was facilitated by the popularization of the works of M. Eliade and M. Harner in Russia. The authors analyze how the identity of a shaman is formed in a megalopolis, what paths lead individuals to this role, and how the experience of “shamanic illness” is interpreted as a marker of being chosen. The study is based on qualitative data, that is, on interviews with urban shamans from different cities of Russia. The article examines the trajectories of entry into practice, including the spiritual crisis, the influence of media discourse and mentoring. The authors trace the transformation of shamanism in urban and digital culture, as well as its mixing with esotericism and popular spiritual practices. The work demonstrates how shamanism is adapting to modern times, becoming part of a global and mediatized spiritual space.
Keywords: urban shamanism, shamanic disease, neo-shamanism, sacred specialist, spiritual search, basic shamanism, media space
Kasyanov V.V. (Krasnodar), Samygina L.V. (Rostov-on-Don), Yahutl YU.A. (Krasnodar). Renaming of Russian Cities in the Context of the State Toponymic and Memorial Policy and its Expediency in Modern Conditions
VALERY V. KASYANOV
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Head of the Department of History of Russia, Faculty of History, Sociology and International Relations, Kuban State University,
Stavropol, 149, Krasnodar, 350040, Russia
e-mail: culnure@kubsu.ru
LYUDMILA V. SAMYGINA
Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages with a Latin course, Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,
Nakhichevansky Lane, 29, Rostov-on-Don, 344022, Russia.
e-mail: samygina.rostov@yandex.ru
YURI ASLANBIEVICH YAHUTL
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor,
Kuban State University, Department of Russian History
149, Stavropol Street, Krasnodar, 350040, Russia
e-mail: a075ca@eandex.ru
Abstract. The article examines the problem associated with the renaming of modern Russian cities, which acts as an important component of the state toponymic policy. The authors note that the renaming of cities is a complex process, accompanied by a large number of organizational, financial and other objective obstacles that arise in the process of practical implementation of the activity in question. An analysis of the results of relevant opinion polls indicates that residents of specific cities in most cases are opposed to changes in their names. This circumstance is largely due to the fact that the names of cities that exist over a long period of time can be firmly rooted in the urban socio-cultural space, fixed in the minds of its inhabitants and others. The authors believe that any renaming of cities should be carried out in order to return those names that were widely known in the past and present. At the same time, there is a need to document the proposals for renaming, calculate the costs necessary to implement these procedures, and take into account the opinions of residents of specific cities about the expediency of their renaming. In preparing this publication, official Russian Federation documents, published sources, and a wide range of historiography were used.
Keywords: historical consciousness, historical memory, toponymic policy, historical toponym, geographical object
Kolesnikov A.A. (St. Petersburg). Asian with Russian Spirit: Academician V. M. Ploskikh
ALEXANDER ANTONOVICH KOLESNIKOV
Doctor of History,
Professor of the Department of International Humanitarian Relations,
Director of the Center for Eurasian Studies of St. Petersburg State University
191060, St. Petersburg, Smolnogo Street, 1/3
e-mail: akol2017@mail.ru
Abstract. The article reveals the scientific activity of the famous historian, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan (NAS KR) Vladimir Mikhailovich Ploskikh, who made a significant contribution to the development of historical science. In particular, he is credited with the scientific development of the topic of the history of Russian-Kyrgyz relations. In his numerous works that have received worldwide recognition in the international scientific community, V.M. Ploskikh touched the complex issues of the ethnogenesis of Kyrgyz statehood, and paid close attention to the influence of Russian culture and science on the socio-political development of the peoples of Central Asia. For many years, a special area of scientific activity of V.M. Ploskikh has been underwater archaeology within the framework of the International Integrated Issyk-Kul Archaeological Expedition to study sunken monuments headed by him.
Keywords: Kyrgyzstan, Russian-Kyrgyz relations, underwater archeology, KRSU, NAS KR
Katerov D.A. (Nizhny Novgorod). On the Role of Henry De Blovitz (1825-1903) and the Hidden Actors in the Events of the «War Scare» of 1875 Through the Prism of His Memories
DMITRY ALEXANDROVICH KATEROV
Master’s Student; Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities; Privolzhsky Research Medical University (PRMU)
603005, Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, Minin and Pozharsky Square, 10/1;
e-mail: mityakater@gmail.com
Abstract. This article undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the role played by the French journalist Henri de Blowitz, a reporter for the British newspaper The Times, in the process of peacefully resolving the international crisis known as the «War Scare» of 1875. It emphasizes the importance of the press in the life of European society during the second half of the 19th century and delineates the status of the London publication The Times. Drawing upon a critical examination of Blowitz’s own memoirs, supplemented by a broad range of additional sources, the study investigates the modus operandi of the impact exerted by his publication “The French Alarm” on the de-escalation of tensions between France and Germany. The work not only underscores The Times’ unique status as a key mediator in the international relations of the era but also provides a detailed examination of Blowitz’s specific contribution to crisis resolution. Concurrently, the role of other key figures (Duke Louis Decazes, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, diplomats Joseph von Radowitz and Élie de Gontaut-Biron) in the unfolding of events is analyzed. The conclusion drawn points to Blowitz’s significant, yet not exclusive, role in preventing military conflict. This finding demonstrates the multifaceted nature of the crisis and underscores the necessity of accounting for the context of actions taken by covert actors, whose influence was manifested indirectly through the journalistic activities of the Frenchman.
Keywords: Henri de Blowitz, «War Scare» of 1875, «The French Alarm» article, Blowitz’s memoirs, «The Times», role of the press, hidden actors, international relations
Damenia I.H. (St. Petersburg). The Activities of the Abkhaz Intelligentsia in the Spiritual Development of Abkhaz Society in the 19th – early 20th Centuries
IRIRNA H. DAMENIA
Candidate of Historical Sciences, General Director of LLC “Publishing House “Law Center”,
corresponding member of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences,
20 Tverskaya str., 99, St. Petersburg, 191124, Russian Federation
ORCID iD 0009-0005-7712-5682
e-mail: damenia@rambler.ru
Abstract. The article examines the activities of representatives of the Abkhazian clergy in the development of education and enlightenment in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The author analyzes this issue, taking into account the study of church policy and the participation of representatives of the Abkhazian intelligentsia. The main objectives of the church’s activities were the construction and restoration of churches, the establishment of parish schools, the promotion of missionary work, the development of written language, the translation of church literature, and the training of Orthodox clergymen from the local population. The Society for the Restoration of Orthodox Christianity in the Caucasus carried out extensive work in the field of missionary and educational activities. Since its establishment, the Society has been actively involved in the creation of the Abkhazian alphabet. The first representatives of the Abkhazian Church were not only parish ministers, but also engaged in translating liturgies into the Abkhazian language, publishing translation books, prayer books, the Gospel, and the Bible. The revival of the Abkhazian liturgical language was initiated by such representatives of the Abkhazian Church as Iyu Gegiya, S. Eshba, P. Pilia, and many others. By the end of the 19th century, the activities of the “Commission for the Translation of Liturgical Books and Books of Religious and Moral Content into the Abkhazian Language” were known, and as a result, a group of Abkhazian priests and teachers was formed, who translated liturgical books from Church Slavonic into the Abkhazian language. A large group of trained Abkhazian clergymen emerged in Abkhazia. The first representatives of the Abkhazian Church were not just parish ministers, but also translated liturgical services into the Abkhazian language and published translation books, as a result of their activities, a group of Abkhazian priests and teachers was formed, who translated liturgical books from Church Slavonic into the Abkhazian language. They also taught the Abkhaz language in parish schools, playing a major role in the development of education for the Abkhaz people.
Keywords: Abkhazian Church, clergy, priests, society, commissions, ,07риparish schools, and church literature
Teterin P.V., Rodionova I.V. (Moscow). The Role of V.M. Molotov in the Stalin-Molotov Tandem in the Postwar Foreign Policy of the USSR (1945-1949)
PAVEL VIKTOROVICH TETERIN
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities,
Moscow, Leningradsky Ave. 49/2, 125167, Russia, Moscow, Russia.
e-mail: teterinpost@yandex.ru
IRINA VITALIEVNA RODIONOVA
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Associate Professor of the Department of Humanities.
Moscow, Leningradsky Ave. 49/2, 125167, Russia, Moscow, Russia.
e-mail: ivrodionova@yandex.ru
Abstract. The article is a comprehensive study of the role of V.M. Molotov in shaping the USSR’s foreign policy in the critical post-war period (1945-1949), viewed in the context of his strategic tandem with I.V. Stalin. The study refutes the simplistic view of Western historiography on Molotov as a weak-willed executor of the leader’s instructions, demonstrating his significant independence and influence on the decision-making process. The methodological basis is a multifactorial analysis, including comparative historical and biographical approaches. Using the example of key crises (the Iran issue, the settlement in Eastern Europe, and diplomatic correspondence), the author shows that Molotov was not only an effective tactician, but also a strategist whose tough and principled negotiating style became an effective tool for protecting the interests of the USSR at the outbreak of the Cold War. His tough, uncompromising and principled negotiating style became one of the most effective tools for protecting the interests of the USSR and forming a bipolar model of international relations at the initial, most acute stage of the Cold War. The author concludes that it is necessary to revise the image of Molotov as an independent actor, whose role in Soviet diplomacy went beyond the simple fulfillment of Stalin’s directives.
Keywords: Molotov, Stalin, USSR foreign policy, Cold War, postwar period (1945–1949), diplomatic style, historiography, decision-making