The article analyzes the views of senior management of the USSR about the role of the «human factor» in the context of Gorbachev's «perestroika» of 1985–1991. As the Soviet people perceived leaders of the country, as they represented his attitude to the reforms, the evolution of his consciousness and behavior – these issues raised in the article, has not yet received understanding in historical science. But without answers it is impossible to give an objective assessment of the policy of «perestroika». In the article, based on the analysis of primary sources based on the methodology of content analysis, the study of the repetition of speech practices revealed the importance of «human factor» in the implementation of the Soviet leadership policy of «perestroika». The study of the ideas of the Soviet leaders about the Soviet man allows deeper understanding of the role of the «human factor» in the Russian reforms as a whole.

In the first quarter of the 19th century for the first time for all history of interaction between Russia and Europe, Russia’s positive perception began to acquire a mass character in Germany regardless of political preferences of most of Germans. On the basis of the analysis of German artistic and philosophical writings on Russia, an attempt is made to trace how during a period of the sharpest political crisis the process of transformation of the image of Russia in German public opinion from the «Russian threat» complex to the «last hope of Europe» began, laying down trends that were still relevant in subsequent years.

The author of the article continues to investigate the reaction of English political celebrities and public to Peter the Great`s visit to their country. The numerous references to either well-known or little-known facts are accompanied by the implied idea that from a three-century distance these facts might be seen in a different light than that common for many contemporaries and historians. There is, however, a basis for compromise between struggling views of both admirers and detractors of Russian emperor. All of them agree that no matter how cruel or merciful Peter was he deservedly gained his place among the greatest heroes of the world history.

This article presents a factual analysis of Russian life abroad. It aids to investigate it as a form of a civil society – state with no borders.

This paper is devoted to considering the historiography of interaction between the government and the Cossack during the period of «The Great Reforms» (1860–1870) in the reign of Alexander II. The author chooses the point of view which makes it possible to scrutinize the actions of the central authority more closely during analyses of the research literature. However, the chosen approach doesn’t imply overemphasizing the government’s attitude and its influence on the Cossack policy. Despite the exposed restrictive framework, the essential reserve in a historiography reflecting various aspects of interaction of the power and the Cossacks in the 1860-1870th years was found. In article the content of the most important works on stories of the Cossacks of the pre-revolutionary period reveals.

The main objective of this article is to show the role of the communist youth league (Komsomol), and, primarily of his general secretary Alexander Kosarev, in the organizing and development of the Soviet sport system in the 1930s. Special emphasis will be put on the question of motives lying behind the activities of the Komsomol leadership in the spheres of physical culture and sports, on his conflicts with other organizations, involved in these affairs, and on the hopes, the Komsomol leaders associated with their engagement in it.

This article examines the attitude of Russian emigrant historians in the United States to the Second world war and the participation of the USSR in it. This war left no one indifferent neither in Europe nor on other continents. How did they react to her Russian caught in this time far beyond his country and long ago left her? Whether they tried to help the USSR, whether participated in any actions or rejoiced that there was an opportunity at last to overthrow Bolsheviks? The author tries to give answers to these questions in this article.

The article analyzes a new monograph of Professor Y.V.Aksyutin and associate Professor N.Ye.Gerdt, which is devoted to the attitude of intellectuals to the great Russian revolution. The study is based on sources of personal origin (letters, diaries, memoirs) and periodicals. Reviews of the events are arranged in chronological order, which allowed to show how the attitude of the intelligentsia to what is happening: the overthrow of the monarchy, the Provisional government, the situation on the front, the land question, the October revolution, etc. Described in Detail the daily life of the intelligentsia. The authors concluded that the intelligentsia was the first to resist the Bolsheviks.