Issues per 2015 yr.

Issue No 1 from 2015 yr.

The article is devoted to key problems of the Russian economy at the current stage. The author suggests looking at the Russian economy from a specific sight angle. The foreign policy situation changed seriously during the last year and now it is quite possible to say that the Russian economic machine functions in mobilization regime. Taking this approach the author addresses such painful topics as fall of oil prices, the Russian Federation Central Bank and the government’s policies, interaction of the president and elite, economic amnesty and gas wars. In particular, the author notes: there is a serious risk that the government will go along the most simple and available way, that is it will set about optimization (as it is called now) which practically means drastic reduction of expenses on public health care, education, science, culture, social security. At the same time it should be remembered that the economic life affects all spheres including legislation. It is high time to think about improvement of the constitutional process and a new status of the Central Bank.
Keywords: fall of oil prices; the Central Bank; economic front and wartime economy; amnesty, optimization; gas wars.

The Higher Attestation Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles and the Higher Education: Current Debates and their Origins

The author examines historical roots of the current debates around the Higher Attestation Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles (the Russian acronym for it is VAK). Suggestions made by scientists and officials are mainly aimed at decentralization of the Russian system of scientific achievements attestation and at attachment of international character to this system. In fact, these suggestions exclude the necessity to retain the VAK in its present form. However the movement forward in this sphere is impossible without understanding of origins and causes that generated the current crisis of the thesis attestation business in Russia.
Keywords: the VAK; higher education; academic degrees and titles.

«Lermontov's Great-Uncle»: History of One of the Ancient Artifacts from the Decembrist Myth

During the soviet era it was allowed to include historical figures in the research related to Decembrists. The cultural momentum maintains the use of the «acceptance» in the modern world. Such an inclusion by modern researchers of the D.A.Stolypin, the granduncle of the M.Yu.Lermontov to friends and associates of the P.I.Pestel is very noticeable. On the one hand, this «fact» is gain access to the authoritative biographical reference books; on the other hand, it is based on very dubious sources. In the process of «translation» the original «message» has acquired additional figurative details.
Keywords: M.Yu.Lermontov; D.A.Stolypin; A.A.Stolypin; P.I.Pestel.

On the Pre-History of the Nineteenth Century Caucasian War

Does the Caucasus War belong to the nineteenth century, or, if otherwise, which time could this phenomenon be attributed to? Has this dispute any scholarly importance, or is it just a complex interplay between the nowadays politics and ideology? Is there any methodological sense in retrospective reflections on the alternative routes of Russia-Caucasus history? Let us soberly think over these questions with timid hope to get closer to some feasible solution.
Keywords: The Caucasus War; Russian Policy in the Caucasus; Chechnya; Ermolov; Sheykh-Mansur; Beibulat Taimazov.

Tailor in St. Petersburg – Trendsetter in First Half 19th Century

Today, the profession of a tailor, masters of their craft and artist in one person to become prestigious. But long before this trend existed in St. Petersburg in the first half of the 19th century. How changing social and economic situation tailors in Petersburg for this time? The impact of fashion on the development of Handicrafts? What fashion trends, found its dissemination with the Westernization of Russia after the reforms of Peter the great. Petersburg as a European capital, famous for its luxury, attracted many tailors masters from Europe, which has led to a remarkable symbiosis and the flourishing of the tailor’s craft in the 19th century.
Keywords: Sankt Petersburg; fashion; tailors of Petersburg; city’s handicraft; city’s craftworker; modernisation; westernisation.

«We, Recognized as Representatives of Russia by the Allies…»: Activities of the Russian non-Bolshevik Diplomacy during the Russian Civil War

The Russian diplomacy refused to collaborate with the Bolshevik power in Petrograd, established an autonomous organization and found ways of its financing. Over the period of all Civil War the agency carefully guarded its image of the all-Russian embassy and cooperated with all anti-Bolshevik forces of Russia.
Keywords: Russian diplomacy; Council of ambassadors; Ministry of foreign affairs; revolution; the Civil war; political delegation; V.A.Maklakov; M.N.Ghiers; S.D.Sazonov.

Vassily Shulgin and the «Ukrainian Question»…

V.V.Shul'gin (1878−1976) is a politician and member of the Sate Dumas, a participant of the White movement, prominent publicist of the Russia community abroad. As early as prior the revolution Shul’gin paid attention to a great potential of the Ukrainian nationalism and warned about that. During the Civil war the topic acquired further development in Sul’gin’s articles that are relevant even today.
Keywords: the Civil war; Ukraine; Russia; society; national question; geopolitics.

Mikhail Kol’tsov’s Political Articles Written and Published in 1918–1919 in Kiev: Materials to Bibliography

The article is devoted to the early journalist work of M. E. Kol’tsov who later on was the famous Soviet journalist and one of the Soviet press organizers. Kol’tsov’s little known early article ‘Kings' vengeance' originally published in Kiev newspaper «Free thoughts» in 1918 is reproduced.
Keywords: M.E.Kol’tsov; “Free thoughts”; “kings’ vengeance”; the Civil war; Ukraine; hetman Skoropadski.

Issue No 2 from 2015 yr.

The Global Economy and the World Crisis: USA, Europe, Russia

The article is devoted to condition of the global economy and to difficult relations of the USA and Europe at the world stage. To ensure influx of the world money saved from the crisis into the USA and strengthen the USA capabilities to increase its foreign debt in a rather indolent way it is necessary to escalate crises, make them universal and increasingly acute. However crises cannot intensify indefinitely. That means a threat of a global war. Such gloomy forecasts seem to dominate in the world economy and do not contribute to its positive dynamics at all. The Russian government has developed the anti-crisis plan and anti-crisis investment program. According to this program banks will get main part of money for additional capitalization, for rescue of the banking system. The remaining anti-crisis investments are actually smeared over the key social and productive branches of economy. It means that the government is going to step on the rake the US Fed and European Central Bank have stepped on already.
Keywords: global economy; crisis; economic sanctions; economic pressure; global war.

Prospects of the Russian-Chinese Strategic Alliance in the Arctic Region

The author analyzes perspectives of the Russian-Chinese strategic alliance formation in the Arctic, assesses merits and deficiencies of such alliance. The reason for analysis were the Western sanctions against Russia since these measures may call into question implementation of joint Arctic projects and impair the general political situation in the region.
Keywords: the Northern Sea Route; the Cold war in the Arctic; Chinese interests in the Arctic.

«Philistinism» and «Platitude» in Literary-Philosophical Controversies of the Modernists and the Positivists in the Early 20th Century

The author deals with the debate that unfolded in the early 20th century between the Modernists and the Positivists about notions of philistinism, platitude, and cynicism. It seems that these notions are uncontroversial: everybody is sure that the meaning of the terms is clear and definite. However this certainty is just an illusion. So a great discussion about understanding of these notions evolved in the early 20th century. And this debate demonstrated that the Russian society was deeply divided into two worlds: ideas of Individuality’s rights, ideas of Renaissance through supra-personal foundations of culture were proclaimed and affirmed in one world while another world adored the Humankind and worshiped it. What is higher, a Person or the Humankind? The future of Russia, to a considerable extent, depended on a decision of the question. The future of the 20th century, terrible and bloody, can be seen in these controversies.
Keywords: Positivism; Modernism; platitude; philistinism; cynicism; the Russian Renaissance.

The «Satirists' Case» and «Krokodil» Magazine: from the History of the Soviet Journalism of the 1930s

The authors describe the popular feelings of the 1930s in connection with the history of «Krokodil» magazine reformation. The criminal case filed against three Soviet satirists (N.R.Erdman, V.Z.Mass and Emil Krotki who were accused of writing and disseminating «anti-Soviet» fables and subsequently sentenced) is analyzed. The authors also examine criminal cases brought against M.D.Volpin, M.A.Gloushkov, A.S.Bukhov and Ya.M.Bel'ski.
Keywords: “Krokodil” magazine; the Soviet satire; N.R.Erdman, V.Z.Mass, Emil Krotki, J.V.Stalin, H.G.Yagoda, “God XVI” almanac.

Pro-German Feelings in Sweden in the First Years of World War I (1914–1915)

The article explores pro-German feelings' influence on Swedish public opinion which was typical for one part of the country’s military, political and academic elite in the first years of World War I. The author shows that in spite of some temporal advances Swedish pro-Germanists didn’t succeed any significant changes in Sweden’s political life in 1914−1915. As a result pro-German feelings went gradually out to the end of 1915, and pro-German people in Sweden became a marginal minority without any effective political leverages over Swedish society and policy.
Keywords: Sweden’s domestic policy; Swedish pro-Germanism; Sven Hedin; Rudolf Kjellén; Gustaf Steffen; “activism”.

Aircraft Industry on the Eve and During the Great Patriotic War: under Stalin Hand of a Rigid

In many ways the USSR won the war against Nazi Germany (the war became the first global war of engines) due to the fact that the country had a powerful aircraft industry that was in the process of dynamic development. That is why it is so important to reconstruct the process of organizational consolidation and scientific and technological modernization of the aircraft industry in the tense international situation of the late 1930s and the industry’s subsequent functioning in the extreme circumstances of the wartime. That should be done with all known historical facts taken into account and with no prejudice and no bias. The author has tried to do exactly that. In his attempt the author undertook, perhaps, for the first time, a study of a controversial role I.V.Stalin played in management of the Russian aircraft industry on the eve of the Great Patriotic War and during the war. Readers are free to judge whether the author succeeded or failed in solution of this very complicated task.
Keywords: the Soviet aircraft industry; combat aircraft; prewar period; the Great Patriotic War; relocation of production capacities; I.V.Stalin; the Aircraft Industry Ministry; A.I.Shakhurin.

In Balta Town Underground, 1941–1944. Documentary Essay

Personal recollections, notes made by comrades in the partisan underground, documentary materials on lives and struggle of people on the territory which was occupied by the German and Rumanian invaders form the core of the essay. For nearly 3 years of harsh occupational regime a big underground and partisan organization that existed in vicinity of Balta town, Odessa region, delivered blows to enemy’s rear area. Unknown hitherto facts about heroic and sometimes tragic events of that time, about defeats and victories of partisans and underground fighters are narrated.
Keywords: The Patriotic war; Rumanian occupation regime, partisan movement; Odessa; assistance of the Red Army; liberation.

Literature and Men of Letters in the First Russian Magazine

The author deals with the first Russian semi-popular magazine ‘Monthly essays serving to utility and entertainment' (1755−1764). The literary section was one of the most solid parts of the magazine. The magazine reflected events of the epoch’s literary life: literary polemic debates, personal relations of men of letters, European ‘polite literature' works' penetration into Russia etc.
Keywords: Russian journalism of the 18th century; Academy of sciences; G.Fr.Muller; M.V.Lomonosov; literary polemic debates.

Issue No 3 from 2015 yr.

Calculations and Miscalculations. How Geo-Strategy Became a Hostage of Geopolitics

According to Kausewitz, «war is the continuation of politics by other means», by means of armed struggle. A state’s capacity to implement its war-time policy principles and ends with military ways and means depends on correct definition of a state’s war-time policy. The World War II is replete with illustrations that inadequately, poorly formulated, permeated with reactionary ideology geopolitics had a negative bearing of achievement of specific goals by a state military machine. The author discloses contradictions between policies and strategies of the USSR’s allies in anti-Nazi coalition and anti-Japan coalition in the Pacific war. The author demonstrates how these contradictions impeded war efforts of Western allies and led Japan to military and political downfall in the world war.
Keywords: policy; strategy; contradictions; anti-fascist coalition, the USSR; the USA; Great Britain; China; Japan; interests; war.

«Philistinism» and «Platitude» in Literary-Philosophical Controversies of the Modernists and the Positivists in the Early 20th Century (the end)

Responses and comments to Gorki’s letter with the demand to knock already prepared stage play on F.M.Dostoevski's novel «Demons» off the Moscow Art Theater’s repertoire expressed the modernist attitude to infringement of personal freedom in the space of culture. Virtually everybody who responded to the situation censured Gorki for violence against freedom of creativity. However, the revolutionary young people who acted in the open discussions of Gorki’s letter, rather supported than condemned the writer. In his answer to critics Gorki himself did not admit any fault and accused his opponents of «philistinism», «cynicism» and «platitude». The article deals with the deep-seated foundations of differences in explanations of these concepts. The differences resulted from the polar perceptions of Russia’s progress and Russia’s future.
Keywords: Gorki’s letter on Moscow Art Theater’ stage play “Demons”; responses to the letter; responses of the revolutionary youth; perceptions of the country’s progress.

«We All are Do-or-Die Heroes Here…». Phenomenon of the Soviet Society Social Mobility in Light of Its Elevation (1920−1930)

Heroism was and remains to be one of the most effective tools of Communist regime legitimization. At the same time creation of heroes was an effective tool of the Soviet elites formation. Rise of «heroic» quasi-social layer of population became the most pronounced example of social mobility in the Soviet society. The author traces genesis of this phenomenon from the cult of fallen heroes of the revolution and civil war through the «post-heroic» «New Economic Policy» period up to «the time of heroes» of the second half of the 1930s. This later period was marked with a hero’s image functionality. A particular attention is paid to the role of the «heroic» narrative.
Keywords: the USSR; heroes; glorification; Soviet elites; social mobility.
The attempt by the new Soviet leadership in 1965 to increase all forms of censorship and other repressive measures created opposition among many intellectuals which developed into «dissident movement». To suppress this dissent the KGB started to use different repressive measures, including the pressure to emigrate, deprivation of some dissidents of Soviet citizenship with confiscation of their passports and the deportation. Zhores Medvedev, biologist, was deprived his Soviet citizenship in July 1973 while officially arranged research trip to London. In his Memoirs «Dangerous profession», extracts of which are published here, he describes some episodes of his first year as an exile and the problems of some other dissidents, in this story Mstislav Rostropovich and Alexander Solzhenitsyn forced out of the USSR in 1974.
Keywords: Spain; dissidents; Rostropovich; Solzhenitsyn; Sakharov; Nobel prize; Jackson Amendment.

«Shuttle Diplomacy Harry Hopkins». On the History of the Letter to Stalin

During the World longest crisis — the Great Depression and the Second World War — in the USA one man stood nearest to the president Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was Harry L. Hopkins — trusted and loyal lieutenant of the president. From his work as a social worker in the New Deal through his most dangerous assignments during the war Hopkins demonstrated his best qualities — intellect and the art of creative diplomacy in negotiations with world leaders. By the fall of 1941 Hopkins became a key figure in US-Soviet relations. The main part of the article deals with the unknown Hopkins' letter to Stalin written by the special presidential envoy after his Moscow visit in July 1941.
Keywords: The Second World War; shuttle diplomacy; Roosevelt; Churchill; Stalin; Hopkins; lend-lease; antinazis coalition; Hopkins visit to Moscow.

«…An important phase of the peace offensive of Moscow …». Based on materials from the International Economic Conference 1952

This article analyzes the documents of the International Economic Conference held in Moscow in April 1952. The authors clarify and enhance the common point of view on the formation of foreign policy doctrine of late Stalinism. In addition, the published documents are a clear illustration of pragmatic solutions of current problems of internal and foreign policy of the Soviet government. The reader gets a rare opportunity to «see» the events in a historical context by the «eyes» of their members, which is especially relevant in the context of modernity.
Keywords: late Stalinism; foreign policy; economic sanctions; trade embargo; an international meeting; the publication of the source.

Two Germanies. Impressions gained during a visit to Berlin in May

The author shares with impressions he gained during his recent visit to the capital of Germany (the visit coincided with the 70-th jubilee of the Great Victory. The opinion of the expert on German affairs, author of numerous studies in the 20th century German history, a person who from «within» observed how the Federal Republic of Germany really expanded at the expense of the German Democratic Republic is of interest because a picture that is carefully produced by media and politicians who care of anything but firm and safe peace in Europe does not disturb the author’s judgment. For a lot in the contemporary world still depends on what Germans think and do. The author comes to the conclusions providing a hope that peacefulness and readiness to constructive cooperation (both traits can be regarded as the GDR’s political testament) will prevail in the final resort.
Keywords: the Federal Republic of Germany; German Democratic Republic; the Victory Day celebration.

Issue No 4 from 2015 yr.

The author focuses her attention on the problem of unrecognized or self-proclaimed states. Nowadays the problem became one of the most obvious manifestations of the international law chaotization. The process began in the late 20th century. Nevertheless up to 2008 normative value of such documents as the UN Charter and the Final act of the Conference on security and cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Act) have been never challenged. The more so the fundamental principles laid in the basis of the international legal order that was established after the World War II. The situation changed drastically after 2008. The author pays a particular attention to events happened in 2008 since it were precisely these events that, in a great extent, created the context ignoring which it is impossible neither to grasp specifics of the Donbass phenomenon (despite the wide spread opinion that has little in common with the first post-Soviet unrecognized republics), nor duly appreciate tenacity demonstrated by the still unrecognized Trans-Dniester Moldavian Republic and Nagorno-Karabkh Republic in their fighting for the territory of right. As the author shows in the concluding part of the article, the significance of this tenacity goes far beyond confines of these republics.
Keywords: chaotization; legal order; conflict; referendum.

Calculations and Miscalculations. How Geo-Strategy Became a Hostage of Geopolitics (the end)

The World War II is replete with examples when inadequately stated, permeated with class ideology geopolitics brought to bear negative influence on achievement of its specific goals by means of military strategy. The second part of the article exposes contradictions between policies and strategies of the Western Allies in the anti-Fascist coalition during the Pacific war. The most dramatic manifestation of these contradictions came at the final stage of the WWII when the Western Allies proved to be unable to complete defeat of Japan in short terms and without unacceptable losses. All these conditions could be fulfilled only due to the USSR entry into war. Despite willingness to limit growth of authority and influence of the USSR on the post-war world balance of forces the Western Allies had to ask the USSR to join the war on the Far East due to the immense experience of land operations the USSR acquired in Europe.
Keywords: policy; strategy; contradictions; anti-fascist coalition, the USSR; the USA; Great Britain; China; Japan; interests; war.

Energy Policy of Russia in the South Caucasus: Pipeline Wars

The geopolitical aspects of a number of energy projects in South Caucasus are presented. The major pipeline projects in the region such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, Iran-Armenia and others are estimated. The basic problems of confrontation and cooperation among Russia, USА, EU, Turkey and Iran for the dominance in the energy market of the South Caucasus are studied. Russia’s pipeline strategy in the region is analyzed; its strengths and weaknesses are identified. The significance of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in the development of regional pipeline maps is revealed. The degree of influence of regional instability and a number of territorial conflicts on the pipeline system of South Caucasus is defined.
Keywords: energy policy; South Caucasus; pipelines; Russia; EU; USA; Iran; Turkey; natural gas; oil.

«A Magazine for Military Educational Institutions Students Reading»: Glimpses of Journalism for Children

The article deals with a specialized magazine for children. The magazine was intended for students of military educational institutions of the Russian Empire. The purpose of the magazine determined its contents, circle of authors and general ideological trend of the magazine.
Keywords: ideology of Nickolas I epoch; magazines for children; Ya.I.Rostovtsev.

Luxury. Crisis. State. The State Regulation of the Russian Luxury Market during the Crisis of 1916–1917

The article considers the regulatory activities of the Russian government in the luxury market during the World War I and February Revolution. This research is focused on the price formation and speculations in the Russian consumer market. The article contains analysis of the Russian tax system under the extreme conditions of the war time. The author has revealed new historical sources. This research contains multidisciplinary approach (social, historical and economical science). The further research of the respective topics may lead to significant scientific achievements.
Keywords: price formation; сrisis; World War I; luxury; tax system; regulation of consumption; consumer market.

A Dangerous Profession (to be continued)

During September and October 1974 the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations under the chairmanship of Senator J.W.Fulbright organised the open «Hearings» on «Détente» and the awarding the Soviet Union «The Most Favoured Nation» status in trade and the Jackson amendment attached to it. This Amendment linked the MFN status to free emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel. At the same time the new Trade agreement was also linked to the ratification of Agreements on the mutual reduction of strategic weapons (SALT-1) signed by Brezhnev and Nixon in 1972. Zhores Medvedev was invited to participate and in his Statement before the Committee on October 8th insisted that the Senate approval of «Jackson amendment» which was unacceptable to Soviet leadership might ruin not only the Trade agreement, but also the whole détente, SALT-1 and create new restrictions for emigration from the Soviet Union.
Keywords: Jackson Amendment; SALT-1 Treaty; J.W.Fulbright; Jewish emigration.

«…He Was a Great Lover of Luxury and Splendor»: Saint-Petersburg Tailor of the 18th Century

The history of Imperial Russia began not only with new army and navy, but also with the new clothes. Growth to the new capital of the Russian Empire, St. Petersburg, on the one hand, absorbed the Moscow experience of cooperation with foreign experts from the German Slobode of the 17th century, on the other hand, was an experimental space in which to generate new knowledge and experience sharing to a new level. The tailors of Petersburg were supposed to supply the population of a large city with European clothes: nobility, burghers, craftworker and merchants, the Royal court, the army and navy. The presence of many foreign tailors in St. Petersburg strongly influenced the development of tailor’s and resulted in a major fashion center in Russia in the 18th century.
Keywords: St. Petersburg in the 18th century; fashion; man's suit; tailors of Petersburg; city’s handicraft; city’s craftworker; modernisation; westernisation.

«Substitute» Elements in Religious Practices (Based on Recollections of GULAG Prisoners in the 1920-s — the 1940s)

The article deals with the problem of religious practices adaptation to conditions of the Soviet imprisonment and prison camp detention in the 1920s — the 1940s. Christian religious practices are taken as example. Actions, items, spaces, texts of religious life mutated under impact of interdictory conditions: religious procedures and rites were simplified and reduced down to substitution of action with narrative about action; items of religious attributes were made of make-shift materials and divided into parts; each part began to symbolize the whole or these parts were excluded altogether; lack of special spaces for religious rites and actions led to their conduct virtually in any point of space accessible to prisoners.
Keywords: Gulag; memoirs; religion; uncensored tradition.
Technocratic mentality started to form gradually since the second part of the 19th century. The most famous European physicians stated that the crisis of humane medicine arrived after the WWI and the increasing dehumanization of medical activity came after the WWII. Nowadays the process seems to acquire irreversible character. A doctor and a patient have proved to be on different sides of the barricade built of technical achievements and hardened by impregnable technocratic mentality.
Keywords: causal thinking; reductionism; technocratic mentality; dehumanization of medical activity.

Issue No 5 from 2015 yr.

The metaphysical fall and subsequent cultural, geopolitical and other disasters caused by that fall have not brought about to the final lethal result they had to bring about. It means that if the process of conflict between Russia and the West has really acquired a long process character and become really fundamental one belonging to issues of the country’s life or death then the subject of the whole system reformatting comes to the fore. The existing system is inadequate to the new reality and new challenges by now. A new plan is required. If this discussion will not be started right now then Russia will have no future. Not because it is necessary to catch up what was missed out but because it is necessary to consider in due time those strategic threats that are not in the center of attention so far but seem to be of great gravity. These dangers may suddenly make everything else dull and senseless.
Keywords: the metaphysica; retrogression; Russia; the modern European humankind; structure; sense and meaning; state.

«We Need Orders and Distinctions…». Role of Awards in the Soviet Identity Formation

The article deals with role of awards in formation of the Stalin’s period «new man» formation. The article is based on authentic personal documents of the second half of the 1930s that are introduced into scientific turnover for the first time. Giving an answer to the question on causes of high ascendant social mobility of the Soviet society the author comes to the conclusion that the positive identity of «homo heroicus» which, to a large extent, was being formed due to belonging to the «award bearers» community. The author pays the particular attention to transition of the Soviet award system from awards granted to the elite to mass awards.
Keywords: the USSR; awards; elites; the Soviet identity; social mobility.

A Dangerous Profession (to be continued)

My report at the «Hearing» of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on «Jackson Amendment» on October 8th 1974 produced an «Open Letter by Lidya Chukovskaya and Lev Kopelev to Zhores Medvedev» which was broadcasted by foreign radios. Both authors criticised me for negative attitude on awarding The Nobel Peace Prize to Andrey Sakharov. This criticism was based on false information. In November 1974 I was appointed as Senior Reserch Scientist of the National Institute of Medical Research and was able to resume my study of biochemistry of ageing. In 1974 Vladimir Maximov and Solzhenitsyn founded a new literary-political journal «KONTINENT». Attention of western press in December of 1974 was also attracted by the ceremony of the presentation of Nobel Prize for Literature to Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
Keywords: Lev Kopelev; Lidya Chukovskaya; Nobel Peace Prize; Kontinent; Alexander Solzhenitsyn; Andrei Sakharov.
The author examines the Christian and pagan ideas about the otherworld and their influence on the literature of Ancient Russia. Common understanding of the problem did not exist. Disputes about heaven were based on different interpretation of another world. The Antioch concept and Neoplatonic concept had the greatest influence on Russia. Apocryphal images of heaven and hell were widespread in the Old Russian literature. They had strong influence on the disputes about heaven. Russian ideas the other world were formed on the basis of Orthodox, apocryphal and pagans ideas about post-mortem existence.
Keywords: Ancient Russia; another world; heaven; hell; life after death; Orthodoxy; Neoplatonism; the Apocrypha; the influence of paganism.

«Insane for Christ» and «Wordly Holiness» in Ancient Rus. The Classical French Historiography Text on the Russian «Foolishness for Christ»

Bibliography in French devoted to the Russian religious piety, to foolishness for Christ in particular is in many respects based on works by the Russian Orthodox community. The life and creative development of Elisabeth Behr-Sigel (1907−2005), the French researcher who adopted the Russian Orthodoxy and studied history of the Orthodox church and the Russian theology are the most vivid example of the thesis. Her study of the Russian spirituality based on G. Fedotov's conception, has not lost its relevancy for French readers up to now.
Keywords: the French language bibliography; fools for Christ; holiness; E.Behr-Sigel; G.Fedotov.

Thoughts Caused by a Letter. Once More about Intelligentzia on the Eve of February, 1917

In years prior to the fall of the Russian autocracy intelligentsia circles discussed urgent issues of war and patriotism, authority, inevitability or possibility of revolution. Activities of these circles were a part of political everyday reality and are reconstructed on the basis of coevals' correspondence including a little-known letter written by M.F.Andreeva to M.Gorky.
Keywords: letters; everyday life; non-formal associations; patriotism; imperialism.

Moscow–Kaunas–Vil’nyus in 1940–1941. Between Geopolitics and Social Issue

Peculiarities of the Soviet power making in Lithuania in pre-war years are reflected in documents held in the Russian State Archive of social and political history that are published now. It is demonstrated the key motives of the Soviet power activities wee as follows: 1) military and political considerations connected with expectancy of war; 2) radical transformation of the Lithuanian society social and economic structure that relied upon a complex balance of ideology, practical needs and real possibilities.
Keywords: geopolitics; foreign policy; the Baltic states; Lithuania; economy; ideology, archive documents.
The authors consider the most recent experience that is acquired due to study of peculiarities of a new social-psychological and creative space formation in the Soviet literature and public life of the 1920s exemplified by materials of the Soviet men of letters' private archives and their legal cases and court investigations. The authors analyze mechanisms of creative personalities' adaptation to conditions and requirements of the emerging totalitarian culture.
Keywords: the Soviet literature; public life; repressions and purges; Isaac Babel; Ilya Ilf; Valentin Kataev; Evgenij Petrov.

Issue No 6 from 2015 yr.

The article is devoted to the problem of modern Russia’s survival in the global world, to the challenges that present combination of the country’s foreign and domestic policy factors. Russia has not just to survive. Russia has to gain a new place in the current military-political, religious, cultural context and to fulfill its prescription and assignment. The principal theme of the article is the RF policy in the Middle East and analysis of relation of forces and groupings in this region of the globe.
Keywords: Near East; Russia; Europe; Islam; political process; war; refugees; state.
Condition of Russian-German cooperation plays defining role in formation of international atmosphere in Europe. That was true for the first post-war years and remains to be true nowadays. In conditions when project of the Big Europe that involves the Russian Federation in transcontinental cooperation is not yet realized well-being of all European countries directly depends on character of relations between Moscow and Berlin that, in fact, is the capital of the European Union. Growing threat of terrorism only accentuates this connection. Upon terrorist attack in Paris France in cooperation with Russia has formed the basis of a wide international antiterrorist coalition. The principal question is: when the Federal Republic of Germany will join the coalition. Respective decisions seem to be made but the first and greatest difficulty consists of the fact that so far Berlin was geared exclusively to Washington and the USA does not hurry with taking part in ISIS routing.
Keywords: Russia; FRG; the USA; international terrorism; ISIS; antiterrorist coalition; Big Europe; unification of Germany.

«Open the Gateway to Well-Being for Natural Talents»? The Estate Problem in Educational Reforms Drafts Suggested by I.I.Shuvalov and M.V.Lomonosov at the Turn of the 1750s and 1760s

The article deals with the solution of the problem of integration of educational institutions in a estate society of Russian empire, proposed in the projects of I.I.Shuvalov and M.V.Lomonosov at the turn of 50−60-ies of XVIII c. Shuvalov and Lomonosov in 1760−1761 were in a situation of confrontation. For Lomonosov educational institutions should strive to teach gifted children, regardless of their social status. According to Shuvalov, the planned system of schools and gymnasiums was intended only for the children of the nobility, because they were supposed to govern due to their noble birth.
Keywords: I.I.Shuvalov; M.V.Lomonosov; history of education; history of Russian empire.

Apocalypse of Our Times: Preliminary Results of the Russian Education Reforms

The author considers consequences and prospects of reforms commenced in the Russian education in the 2000s and 2010s. The author focuses his attention on the higher education of the Bologna system and on conception of Liberal Arts as well as on idea of radical reduction of faculty, on conception of the «effective contract» an instructor strikes with an educational institution administration, on introduction of the final composition in senior classes and on changes in control and measuring materials of the Unified state exam in Russian. The author notes crudity of reforms undertaken as well as planned, a significant intensification bureaucratization and unfounded upsurge of reporting. Finally the author proposes a number of measures that can stop the pernicious trend.
Keywords: reform of education, higher education; the Bologna system; Liberal Arts conception; “road map” in sphere of education; budgetary funding; optimization.

Gustav Husak: Slovakia, Czechoslovakia, the USSR. A Glance from 1945 and not Only Just That

The author relates her personal acquaintance with Husak that took place after rehabilitation of Husak and his exoneration from accusation in the «bourgeois nationalism» considers circumstances of Husak' appearance in Moscow in early 1945, analyzes documents prepared by Husak and connected with the Slovakian national uprising and situation in Slovakia. The author also describes the second visit of Husak to Moscow in March, 1945, for discussion of the program advanced by Czechoslovakian government which had been formed in the USSR, and presents Husak’s opinion in respect of state and legal construction of the post-war Czechoslovakia and of condition of Slovakia in Czechoslovak Republic after its restoration and demonstrates Husak’s attitude to the USSR.
Keywords: Gustav Gusak; Czechoslovakia; Slovakia; the USSR, 1945; Moscow; the Slovakian national uprising.

A Dangerous Profession (the end)

The appearance in 1974−1975 some new anti-socialist and religious journals of Soviet emigration stimulated the creation by Roy Medvedev a new samizdat journal «XXth Century» in Moscow with socialist-democratic orientation. Collections of essays and literary stories from this journals were published also abroad in Russian, English, French, German and other languages. One of the authors of this journal was Michail Yakubovich active participant of Russian revolution who knew well its main leaders. Memoirs of Yakubovich about his arrest and interrogation with the use of torture were included by Alexander Solzhenitsyn into his epic «Gulag Archipelago», however with many distortions and falsifications of Yakubovich case. It is described in this essay how it became possible to force Solzhenitsyn to make necessary corrections in the text of the first Soviet edition of his work pablished in «Novy Mir» in 1989.
Keywords: Roy Medvedev; samizdat; Michail Yakubovich; Alexander Solzhenitsyn; “Gulag Archipelago”.

The Ancient Russian Notions of the Other World (the end)

Basing his study on proceedings of exegetes, apocryphal books, the ancient Russian writings, and folklore the author investigates two extremities of the Medieval understanding of the paradise: paradise was understood as the phenomenal historical reality and as the noumenal entity. Exegetes-textualists' conception of the earthly paradise negated the conception of the earthly paradise from the Christianized Neo-Platonism positions. Ambiguousness of the situation is interpreted with trends of the problem understanding by the popular consciousness taken in due account. Impact of pre-Christian notions on apocryphal images of the paradise is demonstrated. Images of the other world divided from this world by the water barrier are referred to archetypical images. Such images received their second life in works of Vassily the Wanderer. Vassily’s opinions are estimated in comparison with the strict Orthodox works of the medieval Russian book culture. The author comes to the conclusion that the naïve adherence to the nature confronts with the impeccable in doctrinal terms conception of the ideal heavenly paradise as the supra-sensual world devoid of specific features. Scenic understanding of the heavenly paradise was transferred into the early medieval Russian literature through descriptions of saint visionaries' travels to the Heaven. The author suggests interpreting vivid images of the paradise that were offered in the non-canonical books as the sensual allegories of the future indescribable blessing.
Keywords: Ancient Russia; another world; heaven; hell; life after death; Orthodoxy; Neoplatonism; the Apocrypha; the influence of paganism.

The New Research of the Phenomenon of Stalinism and the Jewish question in the USSR

The author, renowned specialist in history of interethnic relations in Russia and the USSR, presents the new version of book «Secret policy of Stalin. Authority and anti-Semitism» written by G.V.Kostyrchenko and published in 2015 by International relations publisher’s house. Author investigated in a rather detailed way the book’s theses that are principally new in methodological, factual and analytical respects. Author gives an overall positive appraisal of the book and thinks that the book is an important scientific contribution to the Russian historiography.
Keywords: Stalin’s policy, national question, political and state anti-Semitism, “cosmopolitism”, enhancement of patriotizm and ethnic nationalizm in authority.

People from Footnotes. Maxim Maximovich Kovalevski as an Austrian Captive

The article is devoted to a poorly studied period of life of M.M.Kovalevski (1851−1916), the distinguished scientist and public figure. This period is connected with Kovalevski’s staying in intern condition in Karlsbad (Austro-Hungary) from July, 1914, to February, 1915. Analysis of various sources allows not only making up gaps in Kovalevski’s biography. The analysis also enables to elucidate difficulties experienced by Russians who happened to find themselves in a similar condition at the outbreak of the WWI. That is very important because issues like adaptation of Russian prisoners to new severe conditions, their everyday life, creation and testing of mechanism of prisoners and interns release and repatriation are yet poorly investigated.
Keywords: M.M.Kovalevski; the Austrian captivity; attitude to the war; condition of Russians interned in Austro-Hungary in 1914–1915.