Aim. To restore a holistic vision of Russian history in terms of its main periods and events both in the views of F. M. Dostoevsky and in relation to his historiosophical concept. Methodology. The methods and approaches of intellectual history were used. The Russian historical process was presented in chronological sequence in accordance with the events and phenomena that are reflected in the writer's work. The research sources were Dostoevsky's journalistic works and the corresponding draft materials. The writer's views were considered in the context of the development of Russia and the world in the 19th century. Results. Dostoevsky's historiosophical views were analysed in the projection of Russian history structured by periods. The writer's views on the history of Russia were found to be close to the Slavophil direction of historiography. The basis for Dostoevsky's understanding of the historical process was the concept of realization of Russian Christian messianism through historical events. The writer's views on the formation of ancient Russian statehood, social structure of Russia in the 17th century, reforms of Peter I, history of foreign policy of the 19th century, etc., were reconstructed. Research implications. The developed holistic presentation of Dostoevsky's historiosophical and historical views, emphasizing a special path of Russian development, based on the values of patriotism and spiritual and moral development of a human being, can be used when forming a unified concept of Russian history at the state level. The materials presented in the article can also be used in courses on history, history of philosophy, history of Russian socio-political thought, historiography, etc.

Aim. To consider the literary polemics of N. K. Mikhailovsky and F. M. Dostoevsky on the problem of relations between the people and the intelligentsia. This problem is central to the social thought of Russia in the second half of the 19th century, since its solution determined the direction and nature of the political development of the country, putting the country before a choice between peaceful development and violent revolution. This problem was not specifically raised in historiography. Certain aspects of the relationship between Dostoevsky and Mikhailovsky (polemics about the novel «Demons», etc.) were considered in the works of V. A. Tvardovskaya. Methodology. The research is based on the use of F. M. Dostoevsky's journalism and N. K. Mikhailovsky's critical articles and memoirs of contemporaries. For the first time, the unpublished manuscript of A. P. Flerov is introduced into historiographical circulation, allowing us to consider the role of Mikhailovsky as a critic of F. M. Dostoevsky in a new way. Results. It was found that Mikhailovsky's literary and critical techniques in relation to Dostoevsky's work were motivated by socio-political and value factors, rather than aesthetic, which inevitably led to a deliberate distortion of the writer's work. In the polemic of the two publicists, two irreconcilable worldviews collided - Christian and positivist-secular. Research implications. The results of the study nuance and enrich the picture of Russian literary criticism and public struggle on the issue of the relationship between the intelligentsia and the people.

Aim. To consider «Winter notes on summer impressions» as a cycle of texts united by a common theme; to reveal the cultural and historical problems of the notes; to identify the cultural traditions of tourist literature. Methodology. The study used cultural-historical and hermeneutical methods. Results. The analysis showed how Dostoevsky's worldview was formed. Research implications. The research results can be used in the study of Dostoevsky's philosophical and socio-political views.

Aim. To identify the common factors that determine the direction of the evolution of F.M. Dostoevsky’s sociopolitical views and their influence on the ideological and political situation in Russia in the middle and the second half of the 19th century. The study also aims to highlight the possibility of implementing these ideas in the fields of modern Russia’s foreign and domestic policy. Methodology. The article considers the formation, the subsequent evolution, and the ideological peculiarities of F.M. Dostoevsky’s sociopolitical beliefs. A critical analysis of the statements made by the writer and thinker was undertaken. The subject matter of the in-depth analysis was the concepts of pochvennichestvo, the Russian idea and Russian socialism which determine the content of these statements as well as the values and ideals that underlie them. In the course of the research, civilizational and formational approaches in conjunction with systemic-structural, dialectical and comparative methods were used. Results. The key components of F.M. Dostoevsky’s sociopolitical philosophy were revealed, and the existing logical connections between them were identified. The author concluded that F.M. Dostoevsky was one of the first Russian thinkers to formulate the value foundations and principles of social conservatism. Research implications. The conducted research casts light on the evolution of the writer’s world view and provides insight into the ideological peculiarities of Dostoevsky’s sociopolitical beliefs.

Aim. To develop a conceptual model of the correlation between F. M. Dostoevsky’s historiosophical ideas with the latest trends in the historical process. Methodology. The study of Dostoyevsky’s system of historiosophical ideas and their application to the relevant processes and challenges of the first quarter of the 21st century was conducted on the basis of content and historical approaches. Additionally, historical-genetic, ideographic and historical-systematic methods were used. Results. Th analysis of F.M. Dostoyevsky’s most important works enabled the author to reveal a system of his historiosophical ideas and prophecies. Their connection with modernity and significance for understanding the historical process was established. Research implications. The results of the study can be used as a theoretical basis for further research on the issues of the Russian philosophy of history as well as in teaching courses on the history of Russia, Russian culture and Russian social thought.

Aim. To clarify complicated aspects of the coup of 1801 and the death of Emperor Alexander I in 1825. Methodology. Comparative historical and historical periodization methods were used. Results. The circumstances of Russian Emperor Alexander I’ accession to the throne and his death were analysed, including the main actors of these events and their motives. Alexander I’ political practices and his alleged political intentions (not carried out as a result of premature death) were characterized. Research implications. According to the analyzed historical sources, the Russian Emperor was planning a large-scale war against the Ottoman Empire shortly after 1825 in order to alienate the territories of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. These plans involved serious military training measures, including the establishment of military settlements.

Aim. The article is devoted to the study of a forgotten episode in the history of the Russian press - the last issue of the conservative journal «Russkoe Obozrenie» edited by Alexey Filippov in 1903. Methodology. The author pays attention to the insufficient study of the Russian conservative periodicals. The circumstances of preparation of this issue of the journal, the declared editorial program of Alexei Filippov and the actual content of the published issue are considered. Results. The article proves that the urgent release of the last issue of «Russkoe Obozrenie» in November 1903 was due to the need to protect the very existence of the journal in the face of the Main Directorate for Press Affairs. It is concluded that Filippov in the last issue of his journal again tried to propagandize the centrist ideology of moderate and progressive «imperial nationalism», although this attempt was clearly unsuccessful. Research implications. For the first time, the article analyzes the political program and content of the last issue of «Russkoe Obozrenie». Clerical and epistolary sources on the preparation of the journal for publication have been introduced into scientific circulation.

Aim. To consider the question of what date should be considered the actual foundation of the Communist International (Comintern) - an international organization that united the communist parties in 1919-1943. Methodology. Research literature, office-work materials, as well as program and organizational documents of Comintern were analysed to identify the specific features of Comintern’s activities in the period between its first congresses (from March 1919 to July 1920). Results. It is concluded that Comintern can be considered as a functioning international organization from the moment of its foundation. Research implications. Previously unknown materials were analysed; a number of organizational documents on the activities of the Executive Committee of the Communist International were introduced into scientific circulation.

Aim. To identify the distinctive features of the representation of children’s images on Soviet propaganda posters created in the period of the Great Patriotic War. Methodology. A comprehensive analysis of sources on the history of Soviet propaganda between 1941 and 1945 was performed. The research was supported by the results of studies on the relevant subject presented in Russian scientists’ works. Ideographic, historical-genetic, and typological methods were used in this scientific investigation. In addition, the method of frequency analysis was employed with the caveat that virtual images but not linguistic structures act as the original units of meaning. Results. Images of childhood ranked high in the unified narrative of Soviet visual propaganda throughout the Great Patriotic War. Children’s social roles and their status in Soviet society underwent major changes. Images of children were a powerful means of consolidating Soviet society for the sake of the future; they motivated people on the home front and on the frontline to withstand tremendous strain. The sacralization of childhood and the perception of all children as society’s common heritage and at the same time active participants in the struggle for the future of the country allow us to postulate the dual nature of Soviet society. Its traditional essence combined with external forms of modernity preserved Russia’s status as a subject of history. Research implications. The summarised data and the obtained results can be used as a basis for further research in the field of the history of the social communications of the Soviet period. In addition, they can promote patriotic education of Russian school and university students.

Aim. To study the visual arts (both official and unofficial) of the Thaw era in the context of the social and political life of the period. Methodology. The work utilized the principles of historicism, objectivity and systematicity in conjunction with comparative-historical and specific-historical methods. The study was based on a problem-historical analysis of visual arts in the context of the ideological and political factors of the above-mentioned Soviet period. Results. The paper examines the relationships between power and art and also between different movements in the visual arts during the Thaw. Additionally, the means employed by the Soviet state to fight against abstract art were studied. Research implications. The paper summarises a few issues in the field of visual arts in the era of the Thaw. The materials of the research are aimed at historians who study the period of the Khrushchev Thaw to understand the current stage of cultural relations.

Aim. To consider the need for the formation of proletariat masses, the proletariat’s motivation, and the essence of the development of vocational schools in the 1920s and 1930s of the 20th century. Methodology. A relationship with the main processes of public life has been established. Comparative-historical and genetic methods in conjunction with mathematical analysis based on dynamic diagrams, retrospectives, correlations, and generalizations were employed. Results. The command-administrative system proved to be ineffective for long-term evolutionary development. However, it provided the necessary workforce for enterprises. Research implications. During the research phase, the author studied 10 000 sources from 48 state and institutional archive fonds. A similar analysis of the 20 pre-war years has not yet been performed. Modern innovative policies in the labour market should be implemented taking into consideration the positive experience in the national history.

Aim. To build an integral model of the dialect division within the Indo-European language family and determine the geographical and temporal setting for each dialect group. Methodology. A comprehensive analysis of anthropological, archaeological, genetical, and glottochronological data was performed on the principles of their mutual convergence and - as far as possible - non-contradiction. Results. The study showed that the original homeland of the Indo-Europeans’ eastern branch was located in the area of the Polgár cultures in the Tisza basin. The isolated dialect groups migrated from the region through the area of the Tripolye culture and spread in the Eurasian steppes. Research implications. An approach for dating Mikhailovka II was proposed, and the hypothesis that the Abashevo culture originated from Mikhailovka II was suggested.

Aim. To study the underlying reasons and the process of preparing the Wendish crusade against the Baltic Slavs in 1147. Methodology. Primary (Latin chronicles, papal bulls and encyclicals) and historiographic sources (Russian pre-revolutionary and Soviet texts, monographs and articles by contemporary foreign authors) were analysed to determine the reasons for the Crusade in the lands of the Polabian Slavs in 1147. The research was conducted using reconstruction of events based on the confirmed historical data, as well as comparative and chronological methods. Results. It is concluded that the secular and ecclesiastical German noble communities residing in the territories bordering with the Baltic Slavs had intertwining religious and economic interests and disagreements. These communities united only temporarily to implement the idea of the Wendish Crusade of 1147. Significant differences in the goals and objectives pursued by the initiators and leaders of the campaign were established. Research implications. A significant array of data from primary and historiographical sources was generalized. Conclusions about the political, religious and economic reasons for the Wendish campaign were drawn without relying on religious and ideological cliché interpretations.

Aim. To identify the essence, features and nature of German-Russian relations in the economic and political fields in 2017-2020. Methodology. The article deals with the process of relations between the two countries with specific examples. The study was conducted using the methods of analysis, generalization and interpretation. Results. Specific features, important circumstances and a number of contributing factors revealing the essence of relations between Germany and Russia were determined. Research implications. This work elucidates the importance, depth, usefulness and prospects of relations between the Russian Federation and Germany in these areas.

Aim. To review the terms analyzed by G. V. Vernadsky in the book “The Mongols and Russia”. Methodology. Specific examples of G. V. Vernadsky's analysis of Mongolian and Turkic terms were analyzed using the methods of comparative-historical analysis, generalization and interpretation of the results. Results. All the main terms that G. V. Vernadsky considered in his book “The Mongols and Russia” were identified and provided with the author's commentary. Research implications. The results contribute to the study of classical historical works by Russian scholars residing abroad.

Aim. To study the impact and conditions of the proportional representation electoral system in resolving ethnic conflicts. Methodology. The methods of comparative and event analysis were used in the course of verification of integrative and consociative approaches. Results. The electoral system under study has serious shortcomings, contributing to the settlement of ethnic conflicts only if other institutes are in place to compensate them. Research implications. The research materials can be used when preparing special courses on electoral systems and electoral behavior.

Aim. To identify the methods and techniques that can be employed in feature filmmaking to form a positive international sociopolitical image of a country. Methodology. Content analysis, historical and case study methods were utilized in the research to conduct a scientific investigation of the visual and audio (text and music) content of the film. Additionally, the locale and period of the film shooting were studied. Results. The techniques used by the filmmakers to improve the image of the USSR in the minds of foreign target audiences were identified. The methods of drawing foreign audience members’ attention to the film and the methods of shaping their positive attitude to the film and the country were established. Moreover, the film scenes related to the formation of the USSR image were classified into six types. Research implications. The methods and techniques which can be used in the cinema industry to form a positive international sociopolitical image of a country were identified. The results of the research can be applied in the filmmaking process.

The reader is offered a translation of a chapter in the book “The Nature of the State” by Westel Woodbury Willoughby (1867-1945) - Doctor of Philosophy, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, the founder of the Department of Political Science (at the same university). W. Willoughby is considered as a founder of American political science. In the chapter presented, Willoughby discusses the problem of sovereignty, which determines political power. The American political scientist makes a crucial comment that, strictly speaking, public opinion is not a civil power. Another remark also deserves interest: until a people become politically organized, there is no sovereignty. Sovereignty comes from the State and belongs to a political community.