From the point of view of historiographical approach
the article considers the augmentation of knowledge
about Russian liberalism as a social thought and political
movement in its past and present which took place during the
last two decades. The author argues that the Renaissance
of modern Russian liberal ideology and liberal social movement
is yet to come and not in the form of dictatorship or
claims for the second round of the radical social experiment
which took place in the late 1990s and was rejected by the
society, but as integral component of the Russian model of
modernization.

This article considers the most important story
of Russian mythology of the South - beliefs about the witch.
From all variety of supernatural characteristics of this character
in the southern Russian beliefs the author selected
one aspect - witches ability to reincarnate (metamorphosis),
since the variety of guises distinguishes the witch from other
mythological figures of the region. The basis of this study is
the analysis of the field data of the 19th - 20th centuries ethnographic
research.

In article considers the problem of biographical
method in history introduced by the Scottish historian of the
19th century T. Carlyle. The author of the article studies the
connection between the biographical method and the problem
of the role of «great man» in history. The task is set to analyze
the works published during the period from late 19th century
till present. The author makes a conclusion that further investigation
of the biographical method of studying History and the
role of personality in it is quite topical.

This paper comments on research status of
national land border issues in Russian academic circles over
the past decade, Russian scholars have made remarkable
achievements in studies of national land border issues. But
their studies focused on the traditional national security issues,
and emphasized the role of military and political factors influencing
national security. Both in content and methods Russian
scholars research is far from being innovative. The author
suggests the idea that Russian studies of national land border
issues should be strengthened by innovative approaches.

This paper argues the unique character of Polish
heraldry as compared with other western heraldic systems. It
also considers Polish heraldrys impact on the development of
Russian coat of arms designing and reveals basic contradictions
in Russian heraldic historiography concerning the Polish
issue in the period from the 18th to early 20th centuries. The
Russian-Polish ties in heraldry and heraldic legislation testify
to Polish influence on Russian heraldry. By studying the disputes
on this phenomenon which prompted Russian scholars
to investigate more deeply the national heraldry and led to
emergence of new concepts and historical treatises, the author
comes to the conclusion that Russian heraldry acquires
a scientific character.

The article studies the historiography of the
Soviet-American trade and economic relations. The author
considers the issues of emerging economic cooperation between
the two powers pinpointing the barriers which got in the
way of its development. The policy of the Soviet state favoring
gradual strengthening of the relations between the countries
has been analyzed. The author determines some basic problems
and approaches to the theme, characteristic of different
stages of Russian historiography development.

The article investigates the development of Fomenkos
ideas within the framework of his new chronology
concerning Biblical history, especially the life-time of Jesus
Christ, his personality and the geography of events in which
the Saviour participated. This subject is all the more important
since a fake conception of the new chronology has never
been subjected to a comprehensive critical study in Russian
historiography. In-depth examination of its content would allow
to trace the development of the system of proofs of the
new chronology and the breadth of its scope. On the basis
of biblical events the author demonstrates the falsity of Fomenkos
historical conception and its lack of any foundation
in methodology and source study.

The article is dedicated to the issue of barbarization
of the late Roman Empire army, which is represented
as a significant element of its development. It is argued that
barbarians drastically borrowed the Roman armament and
tactics but not vice versa. Barbarians (Germans) became
numerous in the army but they did not form the majority either
among soldiers or officers. The imperial army preserved
its Roman character. Barbarization didnt play important role
in the development of the Roman art of war. The barbarians
became romanized in military sphere especially in their armament
and tactics. Consequences of this Romanization were
felt throughout the whole period of the Middle Ages.

The article is devoted to studying the scientific
activity of the Orthodox Palestinian Society. The author
identifies two basic lines of its activity: the analysis of ancient
manuscripts and archeological excavations. The excavation
on the Russian place is considered the most significant. The
outcomes of N.P. Kondakovs expedition are described in
the article. The author of the article also considers Societys
publishing activity. The research activity of the Society during
the period under study was conducted on such a large scale
that its systematization presents a serious scientific problem
which needs further investigation.

The article studies Soviet-American confrontation
during the occupation of Japan in the period from 1945
till 1947. On the basis of the archives the author analyses the
key issues of the USSR-USA interaction regarding postwar
life in Japan, reveals strategic goals of the both parties in the
process. Particular attention is paid to the Soviet Unions true
aims in the occupation of Japan. The results of the research
allow to assert that the period was of crucial importance for
strengthening the US influence in Japan, which epitomized in
the San Francisco Peace Treaty and Security Treaty signed in
1951, and vaging Cold War in Asia-Pacific Region.

This paper considers a range of the American-
Soviet problems in the shadow of the Cold War. The powers
confrontation is revealed through ideological, military and
political factors. The author pinpoints the role of some Gulf
countries which took an active part in solving the petroleum
problem, and thus bringing some changes to US-Soviet relations
in the mid-eighties. The study also focuses on the disputable
question of the Reagan administrations plan for oil
price shock to weaken the Soviet state in both foreign and
domestic policies.

The article reveals the Russian governments
aspiration to inculcate in students social and psychological
features peculiar to Russian nobility. The target audience of
such influence was mainly students of common origin. As it
became obvious that full replacement of the traits of class
identity was impossible, therefore University was set a task to
merely foster noble manners in lower class students. The fact
that University was located in the capital raised the requirements
for perfect manners. Thus, such «high society training»
was also useful for students-noblemen from poor, especially
provincial families. Students of different social origin realized
the necessity of mastering skills of noble behavior and aspired
to acquire them.

The article deals with the corporate component
of the lower-middle class consciousness of the provincial Tula
town in the last third of the 19th − early 20th centuries. The
author attempts to answer the question if corporatism was
the main feature of Tula lower-middle class consciousness.
The study is based on the analysis of the town business administration
records of self-government bodies and the Tula
archives. The article reveals that the Tula lower-middle class
activity was subjected to a definite, inner-corporate system of
standards and regulations, which makes the author conclude
that corporatism was the main feature of lower-middle class
consciousness.

Modeling ethnic territory and related educational
sphere in such a multinational region as the South of Russia
in the early period of Soviet modernization of the 1920s was
quite a difficult and controversial process. Its implementation
was connected with solving administrative-territorial issue by
the Soviet government. Inter-ethnic interaction was marked
both by integration and disintegration. The purpose of this article
is to consider the problems of educational policy in the
northern Caucasus and Kalmykia in connection with ethnoadministrative
changes of the period.

This article deals with changes of form of Personal
Data Sheet of the Staff which was used in the USSR
in 1930-1950s. Personal Data Sheet of the Staff was the
first document filled in by a job applicant in the Soviet Union.
The required data testify to the countrys social policy of the
period. In different years Personal Data Sheet of the Staff
contained different items characterizing Soviet governments
current interests. For instance, the information about party repressions
was asked in late 1930s and the questions about
relatives abroad were posed during 1940s.

A significant number of embezzlements and
thefts in the postwar period were committed within the system
of consumer cooperation. Losses from cooperative traders
criminal activity amounted to millions of rubles. The damage
incurred far exceeded the refund received. The article examines
the state of crime, as well as methods of law enforcement
bodies fighting embezzlement and theft in the system of
consumer cooperation.

The paper highlights the critical moment in the
history of post-Soviet parliamentarism - the election to the
State Duma of the fourth convocation at which for the first
time the ruling party celebrated a resounding victory over
the opposition. The confrontation between two leading parties,
United Russia and Communist Party of Russian Federation
(CPRF) in the course of 2003 election campaign is scrutinized
through the prism of unique materials forming part of the Collection
of the newest history political documents accumulated
in the State Public Historical Library. Their comparison and
analysis brought the author to the conclusion that the idea of
positioning United Russia as the party of responsible majority
which is clearly reflected in pre-election materials made a
considerable contribution to the triumph of the party. On the
other hand, initially advantageous CPRFs strategy aimed at
transforming the elections into all-peoples referendum on a
wide range of current socio-economic issues ultimately failed.

The article considers the cultural component of
the Euroasian concept of cooperation on the post-Soviet territory.
The author pays attention to the revival of interest in
ideas of culture within the framework of the classical doctrine
of evrazijstvo created in the environment of Russian emigration
in the 20th century. Having conducted comparative
research of the modern and classical doctrine evrazijstvo
the author has come to the conclusion that it is by means
of difficult culturological interpretation that political and public
figures tried in the past and are trying nowadays to solve
quite concrete geopolitical problems of revival of the so-called
Russia-Eurasia area. In the given aspect culture presents
itself a strong base launched by centuries on which Russia
should build cooperation on the post-Soviet territory of the
Eurasian region. Nowadays there are two aspects making
Russia the central element of the region: its historical geopolitical
mission and the Russian language.

The article is aimed at revealing the basic laws
of corporate raid in Russia and forecasting its development.
The author considers the types of the companies becoming
priority goals for raiders attacks. As a result of the analysis
the conclusion is made that choosing a victim the raider is
guided, first of all, by parity: profit - expenses. Proceeding
from this parity, the author makes an attempt to reveal a profile
of the most perspective companies from the point of view
of a raider and suggests a means that complicates criminal
captures of business enterprises.

This paper reveals the correspondence between
worldwide politics and worldwide sports by the example of different
countries attitude towards Sochi Olympic Games. The
author considers the possible scenario according to which
some countries may boycott the games or even cause their
failure. Having summarized the facts and analyzed the trends
the article makes it certain that Russia has already become
the object of political extortion in the face of Sochi Olympics,
with the situation getting worse.

The article studies the transformation of press
social functions considering their place and role in modern
political process in Russia. The print media is viewed as an
important platform for a dialogue between the public and
authorities, a political communicator and objective informing
means. To determine press social functions and their evolution
the author highlighted the specific properties of mass media
each of which was characterized with the help of the most
common type publications whose content is most relevant to
a particular social function.

The article reveals the nature of one of the most
important components of integration processes in the former
Soviet Union - preservation and development of the Russian
language as it is one of six world languages and occupies
the seventh position (presuming there are 3000 languages
which are currently in use) according to the degree of spreading.
Thanks to its enormous cultural potential the Russian
language constitutes common civilizational heritage of the
former Soviet republics. The problem of the functional space
of the Russian language is given in the context of the geopolitical
interests of the Russian Federation which got a unique
opportunity to reintegrate the region by virtue of the new world
situation.

The article investigates the process of forming
the extreme right wing in Russia today. The author describes
the movement as an integral element of the political process
in modern Russia, reveals the conditions and mechanisms of
its emergence and development. The focus of the article is
on socioeconomic and political preconditions of the extreme
right wing formation.

The article reveals the features and the most effective
concepts of managing relationships between interest
groups and authorities. The author carries out comparative
research of political and legal experience of the most developed
individual countries, such as the United States, Canada,
UK, Germany and France, and supranational structures of the
European Union aimed at regulating lobbying activities, the
latter being of special interest as it possesses some features
of federation and that has its own conceptual approach to the
phenomenon. On the basis of the analysis the conclusion is
made that it is necessary to recognize and provide legislative
support in form of a concrete legal act for interest groups and
executive branch interaction.

The article tackles the issues of political socialization
of Russian youth in historical aspect. Students have
always been the most active political group of the society.
The author considers youth associations of universities as
the institute of political socialization. It is concluded that the
student union is a hotbed of free thinking and political activity
whatever its declared objectives are.

The article considers the restoration of religious
organizations property rights as a result of the Russian governments
rethinking of state-church relationships in historic
perspective. The author regards restitution and conversion of
cultural heritage as political problems. Restitution of Church
property involves expansion of the Russian Orthodox Church
influence to the sphere of conservation of cultural heritage.
It is proved that this process creates favourable conditions
for the Church to exercise its own strategy of personalitys
cultural identity.

The article reveals the aspect of improving the
present condition of the Russian state policy in the field of
tourism. The author examines the characteristics of a new
type of tourist activity - rural tourism. The study is based on
the study of Russian and foreign legal documents.
Having analyzed the historical component the author
came to the conclusion that it is important to develop a federal
program for the development of rural tourism in contemporary
Russia by conducting targeted, multilateral and active government
policy in this area.