Aim. Study, comparison and generalization of the positions of Russian historians on insufficiently studied issues of the prerequisites and causes of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. Methodology. This study was conducted taking into account the principle of historicism with the involvement of a systematic method, which made it possible to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the historiography of the problem under consideration. Results. The prerequisites and causes of the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774, both the main ones - the clash of political interests of the world’s leading empires, and the secondary ones - the role and significance of the «Northern Accord», the «Dissident question in Poland», Russian diplomats, the foreign policy of France towards the Russian Empire in the second half of the 1760s, are considered. Research implications. The analyzed and compared main provisions of the works of domestic researchers on various issues of Russian foreign policy on the eve of the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774 can be used to prepare special courses on the history of foreign policy activities of the Russian Empire.

Aim. Analysis of the initial phase of the formation of the Russian methodology of history on the example of V. O. Klyuchevsky’s views. Methodology. The study is based on the analysis of V.O. Klyuchevsky’s theoretical positions in his scientific and educational works. Comparative historical, biographical, and retrospective methods were used in the course of the study. Results. In the course of the work, V. O. Klyuchevsky’s views on the initial stage of the formation of the content of the methodology of history in connection with its difference from the philosophy of history are identified and characterized. Research implications. The results of the analysis of this problem have theoretical significance in connection with the problem of the formation of the methodology of history in Russian historiography. The practical significance of the analysis of this problem also lies in the fact that the formation of the methodology became the basis of concrete historical research by Russian historians.

Aim. The purpose of this article is to consider in a comprehensive way the historical views of F. Jameson presented in the works of different years. Methodology. The analysis of the theoretical views of F. Jameson on the relationship of key trends in art and culture with the patterns of development of production relations in three historical periods of capitalism is carried out. Results. It has been determined that the most objective and scientifically grounded means of explaining the phenomenon of postmodernism in culture are the cognitive principles and provisions of historical materialism. Research implication. The research results contribute to the development of F. Jameson’s ideas and popularization of his works.

Aim. This article lists and analyzes the main factors that have had a significant impact on the military policy of the Republic of Mali. Methodology. The main research methods include those of historical-genetic and comparative-historical methods to analyze the development of military policy of Mali since its independence and up to the present moment. The use of methods of the current military political science and analysis of documents and works by Russian-speaking and foreign researchers enabled the author to address the factors which have influence on the national military policy. Results. The author highlights the key factors affecting the military policy of Republic of Mali, such as historical, political and ethical factors, and addresses the main directions of the national military policy. Moreover, the author considers the growing factor of the terrorist threat in the region to be of particular importance in determining the directions of the national military policy. Research implications. Based on the results of the study, it is possible to develop further measures and principles of the military policy of the Republic of Mali, which will stabilize the security situation in Mali and Sahel region.

Aim. The article uses the example of the Second Republic of Austria to study government pressure groups in the 1960s and 1970s. In the government, they advocated for strong ties between the country and the «Common Market», as well as the cooperation of certain groups of Austrian industrialists with German monopolies, which caused certain concern to the Austrian public. Methodology. The fundamental principles in this study are the principle of scientific validity and objectivity, a systematic approach and historicism. As for special historical methods, the method of comparative historical analysis was used, which made it possible to conduct a more detailed analysis of important phenomena and processes in the system of interaction of Austrian political parties. Results. The author comes to the conclusion that during the period under review, the most powerful political organization in the country was the Austrian People’s Party (ЦVP). In the government coalition, it was the leading organization together with the Socialist Party of Austria (SPЦ) and won the largest number of seats in the 1955-1966 parliamentary elections. In the future, the ЦVP became the party that had the strongest influence on the foreign policy of the Austrian government. Within the ЦVP during this period, there was a keen struggle between the right and moderate wings, which expressed the interests of various Austrian lobbying groups. Research implications. The article’s materials can be used for an in-depth study of the political history of the countries of Western Europe, as well as for the preparation of textbooks and lecture courses on the modern history of Europe.

Aim. To present the author’s view of the history of the emergence of the Old Believers as opposed to the approaches developed in pre-revolutionary and Soviet historiography. Methodology. The analysis of historiography was carried out using historical, comparative and historical-analytical methods. Results. The author critically approaches the views of pre-revolutionary and Soviet historians on the problem of the emergence of the Old Believers. The paper puts forward a thesis about the dedication of the leaders of the Old Believers to the ideas of «Holy Russia», although it is not explicitly stated. Research implications. Using the example of the history of Russian schism to show the danger of an ideological and spiritual gap in society.

Aim. To identify the role of the publication of archival documents in the formation of the historical memory of society. Methodology. The work is based on the author’s experience in preparing documentary publications, as well as on the generalization of existing data from domestic and foreign historiography. Results. In the new reality of information wars and technologies that allow manipulating public consciousness, the formation of historical memory based on reliable information about the country’s past is of strategic importance. The publication of documentary collections makes it possible to effectively counter the threat of loss of sovereignty, acting as a kind of «doctor» for the historical memory of society. The search for the causes of the death of the USSR requires an analysis of the “Stalinist” socio-economic model, which remained the “skeleton” of the Soviet “project” even after the 20th Party Congress. It determines the relevance of the publishing project, implemented on the basis of the funds of the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History (RGASPI) under the leadership of Doctor of Historical Sciences, prof. V. V. Zhuravlev. Research implications. The line of documentary publications, which include “ The economic legacy of late Stalinism. 1947-1953” and “Social policy of the USSR in the postwar years. (1947-1953). Documents and materials”, has already been published and highly appreciated by researchers. These publications allow us to compare the long-term concept of the country’s development with its practical implementation in post-war social policy, revealing both the grandiosity of the plans and goals, and the price paid by the society for trying to implement them.

Aim. The purpose of the article is to review and analyze the anti-religious propaganda work carried out by the authorities in the first post-revolutionary years on the territory of the Moscow province. Methodology. The article is a publication and analysis of archival sources identified, processed and interpreted by the author in the course of study on the topic of relations between the state and the Church in the USSR. Results. The analysis of archival materials allows us to conclude that the anti-religious events organized in the early years of Soviet power and widespread in the counties of the Moscow province should include the following: the arrangement of numerous meetings with agitators and distributors of political literature; the appointment of mandatory agitation and propaganda events on Sundays; the organization of blasphemous performances mocking church sacraments and rituals, as well as some demonstrative and repressive measures, such as the imposition of penalties and exclusion from the ranks of the RCP(b) for participation in religious rites, public discussion of family affairs, etc. It is shown that the efforts aimed at turning believers away from the Church, as a rule, did not achieve their goal, but found support only from the lumpenized part of the population, which was not a carrier of Orthodox traditions and foundations. Research implications. The results obtained during the work on the article can be used in teaching activities in disciplines related to the study of the history of the Church and the Moscow region.

Aim. To reveal the conceptual foundations of China’s modern maritime strategy. Methodology. Systematic approach, comparative and historical analysis are used. Results. China’s maritime strategy at the present stage is the embodiment of a new age of Xi Jinping’s socialism with Chinese characteristics. Acceleration of the construction of a sea power will undoubtedly contribute to the regional development of China, which might bring the country closer to the center of the global arena. Research implications. The study provides an idea of the conceptual foundations of China’s maritime strategy and its current state.

Aim. To analyze one of the main political traditions of France - Gaullism, in particular the relevance of Gaullism in the post-bipolar world. Methodology. The analysis is based on the example of the foreign policy strategy of Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy in the Middle East and North Africa, a region traditionally important for French political thought. The paper also presents a brief overview of the foreign policy of the current president Emmanuel Macron in order to identify an appeal to the Gaullist tradition in his foreign policy in this region. Results. We can conclude that the main idea of Gaullism - the idea of the grandeur of France as well as the principle of pragmatism in the framework of the external policy realization is relevant even if the president and his cabinet don’t present themselves as Gaullists. Research implications. The results of the research contribute to the study of the contemporary political history of France.

Aim. To determine the importance of scientific diplomacy in achieving Turkey’s foreign policy goals in the Arctic. Methodology. The research is based on a comprehensive and discursive analysis of official documents, statements of Turkish officials and scientists. Results. It is concluded that for Ankara, research activities in the region are one of the main mechanisms of influence on the international Arctic community. By forming its scientific competence in the Arctic, Ankara plans to receive recognition of its right to more active participation in the region from the world community in order to further use the potential of the Arctic. Research implications. The results of this analysis can be used to develop a holistic approach to determining Turkey’s place in the Arctic region. From a practical point of view, this will make it possible to develop forecasts about geopolitical processes in the Arctic, which can be useful in developing state policy towards the region.

Aim. Based on the materials of sociological surveys, to reveal the attitude of Russian society towards the USSR, to assess the degree of acceptability of the Soviet system of values. Metodology. The key research method in the reconstruction of historical consciousness was the use of materials from sociological surveys. The surveys of the leading Russian sociological agencies - VCIOM, Levada Center, FOM served as the study base. The dynamics of changing attitudes towards the USSR in the context of post-Soviet political processes was traced. Results. Based on sociological materials, it is stated that sympathy for the USSR remains dominant in the perception of the past by the Russian population. It proves that the predominant part of the Russian society adheres to the Soviet system of ideas and values. The conclusion is made about the manifestation of axiological re-Sovietization tendencies at the present stage. Research implications. The findings suggest that the issue of revising views on the Soviet past in educational literature, correlating them with the ideas and values of the majority of the Russian population, is raised. The statement of the dominance of the Soviet system of values determines the need to take them into account in the implementation of state policies by federal and regional authorities of the Russian Federation.

Aim. To understand the mechanisms of emergence and rooting of myths about the Great Patriotic War in mass culture and mass consciousness of the last seventy years. Methodology. Analysis of memoirs and speeches of people who formed ideas about the Great Patriotic War in the 1960-1980s in the context of historical times. Results. The analysis of a whole group of popular myths created by N. S. Khrushchev, which still remain popular, allows us to understand the mechanisms of the formation of these myths and their convenience for mass consciousness and mass culture. It also enables us to get a different, more realistic, picture of the Great Patriotic War and ideas about the USSR as a state that was able to prepare for and win this war. Research implications. Understanding the causes and mechanisms of the formation of still existing myths about the Great Patriotic War allows us to get rid of stereotypical views on this war, look differently at the actions of the leadership of the country and the army, re-think the combat readiness and potential of the Red Army, whose defeats were associated not with those simple cliches which were the most satisfying for political and military elite of the 1960-1980s and mass consciousness, but with a whole set of complex factors that require studying.

Aim. To identify trends characteristic of the latest Russian literature devoted to the causes, dynamics, and consequences of the collapse of the USSR. Methodology. The research was conducted on the basis of the principles of scientific objectivity, historicism, comprehensive study involving classification, periodization, comparative and problem-chronological methods. The procedure for selecting the analyzed literature was based on the need to ensure the representativeness of the findings. Results. A number of trends in the study of the problem characteristic of modern historiography is revealed: activation of attempts to objectively study the topic while maintaining a high emotional intensity; understanding of the need for a comprehensive multifactorial approach to study the causes of the collapse of the USSR; preservation of the desire to find specific culprits of what happened both inside the USSR and outside it. Research implications. The theoretical significance of the article is that the prospects for further scientific understanding of the problem are outlined, in particular, by improving the methodology of studying the topic. The practical result consists in the author’s desire to prove that simple answers in this case lead the consciousness of Russians away from the idea of the multidimensionality of the social process and form a request for solving urgent problems in terms of ensuring the state unity of Russia through primitive solutions.

Aim. To build a cognitive model of the intellectual network of the Russian historiographical discourse on understanding the problem of frontline everyday life of the Great Patriotic War in the historical studies of the late twentieth - early twenty-first centuries. Methodology. This article is based on a comprehensive historiographical analysis of the most representative papers on the frontline everyday life of the Red Army in 1941-1945 in the socio-historical context of the development of Russian historical science of the post-Soviet period. It takes into account the importance of the theme of the Great Patriotic War in the formation of the identity of modern Russian society. Among the methods used to achieve the purpose of the article are historical-genetic, comparative-historical, and historical-systemic. Results. The features of Russian historiography on the problems of frontline everyday life of the Red Army in 1941-1945 are identified and analyzed. It is established that the intellectual network of this discourse is in a state of formation. Historiography is an important resource of social memory about the war and frontline everyday life. Further directed efforts are needed to develop research on various issues of frontline everyday life. Research implications. The information comprehended in the article, having been successfully transformed into structured knowledge and conclusions, will serve as the basis for further research and intellectual capital growth in the field of studying the social memory of Russian society about the Great Patriotic War and the Soviet era as a whole, as well as for rational deconstruction of negative myths about the war and the historical role of the USSR.