Historical retrospective of the administrative-territorial division of the Russian Empire and regional administration in the work of K. I. Arsenyev "Statistical Essays of Russia"

The object of the research is the fundamental work of the famous Russian scientist of the first half of the XIX century K. I. Arsenyev "Statistical essays of Russia". The author provides a brief overview of the content of each of the essays. Special attention is paid to a detailed analysis of the history of the reforms of administrative-territorial division and public administration in the Russian Empire described in the work under study. All the changes that took place in this area from the beginning of the reign of Peter I to the middle of the XVIII century are considered in detail. Various decrees, instructions and other official acts on the management of regions are given and their significance is analyzed. The process of changes in the territorial structure of the Russian Empire and their causes are analyzed. The article highlights the division of the country into spaces proposed by Arsenyev, taking into account natural and economic characteristics. The methodology of the work is based on the principles of historicism, reliability and scientific character. A historical-comparative approach and theoretical methods such as analysis, synthesis and generalization were used. Based on a detailed study and analysis of the works of K. I. Arsenyev and especially his most famous work "Statistical Sketches of Russia", a conclusion was made about the undoubted historical and scientific value of his scientific heritage. The study of his work allows us to trace how the administrative-territorial division of Russia was improved from the beginning of the XVIII to the middle of the XIX century and state policy was changing in order to optimally manage a centralized state. Analyzing the historical decrees cited by Arsenyev, it can be concluded that the main goals of the regional policy of the empire were the political and economic integration of the country, the establishment of its social, legal and administrative homogeneity, but taking into account regional peculiarities. It should also be emphasized that the division of the territory into spaces proposed by Arsenyev was the basis for further formation of zoning ideas. Conclusions are drawn about the importance of Arsenyev's works for the subsequent development of the national school of zoning and regional management.

administrative-territorial division, Arsenyev Konstantin Ivanovich, State regional policy, provinces, domestic school of zoning, spaces, Regional management, reforming the administrative division, The Russian Empire, Statistical essays of Russia