Vol 7, No 6 (2024)

the article is devoted to the activities of the Commissioner for Religious Affairs at the Council of Ministers of the USSR in the Smolensk Region in the mid-1970s, aimed at relations with religious organizations in the region. The authors touch upon the aspects of interaction and control by the Soviet authorities over both registered and unregistered religious communities and groups of believers, showing the activities and problems they faced. In the course of writing the article, the materials of the State Archive of the Contemporary History of the Smolensk Region (hereinafter GANISO) were used, many of which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time.

the article examines the episodes of combat activity and the circumstances of the death of the special forces detachment of the NKVD of the USSR "Special", formed in the spring of 1942 to be thrown into the German rear during the final stage of the battle of Moscow. The command of the consolidated detachment was entrusted to a career border guard officer P.A. Korovin. The process of recruiting the squad is described in detail, attention is drawn to the fact that it included students and graduates of the leading sports university of the USSR – GTSOLIFK, famous athletes, in particular the champions of the USSR in wrestling and boxing. Considerable attention is paid to the difficulties faced by Soviet soldiers in organizing the transition of the front line and in the direct implementation of sabotage and reconnaissance work behind enemy lines in April -June 1942. On the basis of declassified documents from the Central Operational Archive of the URAF of the FSB of Russia, the authors reconstruct episodes of combat activity of the special detachment "Special" and events, related to his tragic death on June 30, 1942.

the article analyzes Russia’s participation in the Syrian crisis settlement: military fight against terrorism which is closely intertwined with diplomatic efforts in multilateral negotiation formats, humanitarian aid and economic cooperation. It is emphasized that currently, given the absence of threat to Syrian statehood, Russia is focusing on soft instruments to maintain its presence in Syria. However, amid Syrian constitutional process at an impass, with no large-scale reforms being conducted in the country, Russia is not putting pressure on the Syrian authorities willing to preserve their status-quo. The author seeks to define main directions for Russia in Syria and comes to a conclusion that it is necessary to proceed on all the tracks, including also assistance to Russia’s business entering Syria, as the time is ripe for Russia to solidify its political and economic role in Syria.

this publication aims to analyze and show the mechanisms and directions of implementing educational policy in Altai during the Soviet period in the activities of the political and administrative elite of the region. The problems of organizing educational work in secondary schools in the region are also considered. The authors note that in the Altai Territory in the 1960s, several party conferences were held in the regional committee of the CPSU to develop real mechanisms for introducing innovations and stating the region's readiness to carry out educational reform. In general, it is shown that at the regional party conferences it was noted that in many schools of the region the level of educational work is low, the educational and material base for the implementation of polytechnic education is being slowly created, and schoolchildren are not disciplined. There were proposals to transfer secondary schools in large regional centers and large state farms to eleven-year education so that it would be in schools that local youth would be trained as broad-based agricultural personnel. The authors found that the main vector in the implementation of education policy in Altai during the 1960s in the regional leadership was the improvement of school education and the minimization of illiteracy. Also, the political leadership elites oriented schools in the region toward agriculture and practical needs.

the article is devoted to the study of the formation, development and organization of women's education in the Far East in 1860-1917. It is based on the historical experience of the implementation of state policy regarding the establishment of women's education in the remote eastern outskirts of the center. It should be noted that throughout the entire historical period of the development and development of the Far East, women have been an important factor in its stability, a guarantor of the success of the policies of government structures of the pre-revolutionary and Soviet periods. The territorial framework makes it possible to identify more clearly the general patterns and local features of the development of women's education. The chronological framework of the study allows us to trace the history of education in the Far East from the moment of the appearance of individual schools to the design of an entire system of educational institutions, when this dynamic process was interrupted by a dramatic period - the revolution and the civil war.

this article analyzes the political views of Benito Mussolini at the early stage of the fascist movement. The purpose of the article is to analyze the transformation of Benito Mussolini's political views in 1919 - early 1920. Based on the use of comparative-historical and historical-genetic methods, as well as the method of content-analysis of historical sources, the article highlights Mussolini's views on the political problems of the Italian state and society. The review of justifications of imperialist rhetoric in Mussolini's publications and speeches is given. The authors also consider the socio-political component of Mussolini's ideas and their influence on the fascist movement, both in general and on the ideology of fascism in particular. Mussolini's views are considered in the context of the vicissitudes of Italian political history of the post-war period. The future leader of Italian fascism was characterized by oratorical talent. Preparing a speech, Mussolini always calculated its content and the potential audience for whom the speech was prepared. The talent of journalism allowed B. Mussolini to succinctly, effectively compose articles for the main fascist newspaper Il Popolo d'Italia. At an early stage, Mussolini was post-dovetective only in matters of imperialist foreign policy and gaining power.

the article conducts a comprehensive historical and chronological study of documentary sources relating to the period of the reign of the emperors of the Byzantine Empire from Constantine the Great to Justinian. The purpose of the study, which uses special methods of historical research, as well as methods of astronomical chronology, is to establish the true year of the founding of the city of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, by Emperor Constantine the Great. According to current historical chronology data, the city of Constantinople was founded in 324 AD. However, chronological data on repeated observations of Halley's comet from Constantinople, as well as the consequences of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Constantinople and its true dating, obtained by the author using the method of astronomical chronology, showed the fallacy of this year of founding of the capital of the Byzantine Empire. A comprehensive historical and chronological study of documentary sources has made it possible to establish the true date of the foundation of the city of Constantinople, namely 1412 AD. The chronological data obtained during this study made it possible to determine the years of life of the city's founder, Emperor Constantine the Great, namely 1359-1424 AD.

the article analyzes the complex set of cause-and-effect relationships that led to the acquisition of Port Arthur as a naval base by the Russian Empire and then the USSR, and, accordingly, the historical factors that became the determinants of the double loss of this important strategic point by our country in 1905 and 1955. The material of this article, tested by the authors within the framework of the modern educational process, is aimed at practical assistance to teachers in studying a classic topic from the point of view of program requirements (and more than relevant in light of the mandatory requirements for students' knowledge in the BSE and USE), especially since the history of Port Arthur as a Soviet naval base in 1945-1955, unfortunately, is rather poorly covered in scientific publications, and is practically not reflected in educational literature. In the context of the complex and dramatic modern political situation, when the Russian Federation defends its historical rights to the regions of Crimea and Novorossiya, the classroom is showing a keen interest in various aspects of the history of the expansion or, conversely, the reduction of the territory of the Russian state, and a careful analysis of the cause-and-effect relationships underlying these territorial changes contributes to the development of critical thinking in students.

the article examines the study of the Novopetrovskoye Fortress in the Mangystau region, which is a site of local historical and cultural heritage, possessing significant historical and cultural value. The main goal of the study is to assess the current state of the monument and propose measures for its preservation and promotion. The research objectives included the analysis of archival sources, topographical surveying of the area, examination of the current condition of the site, and identification of factors negatively affecting its preservation. The central hypothesis was the assumption that insufficient maintenance, human interference, and violations within the protection zone are the primary causes of the fortress's deterioration. The methods employed involved field topographic surveys, analysis of archival documents, and the study of bibliographic materials. As a result, key issues were identified, such as the deterioration of architectural elements, lack of proper maintenance, and control. Specific steps were proposed for the improvement of the site, its museification, and the strengthening of protection measures to ensure the site's preservation.

two trends in the development of ethnic groups have emerged in world history. Moreover, each of them necessarily excludes the other. Although from a historical point of view, the communal nature of the arrangement of ethnic groups had to give way to a political organization in the form of a national state, and in subsequent historical times to a multiethnic state with its complex ethnic structure. However, as practice shows, the call of blood forces ethnic groups all the time to look back to the historical past – the generic organization of public life, with its more humane nature of relationships. In this regard, we believe that nevertheless the federal (contractual) arrangement of the state with the recognition, along with the administrative-territorial principle, of the national-territorial and national-state principles is the very panacea in ensuring a full-blooded life of ethnic groups. This experience allows us to turn to the extraterritorial principle some ethnic groups (for example, national minorities) to meet specific national and cultural needs. Also, we must understand that territorial isolation becomes the basis for the formation of fundamental stable structures of ethnic consciousness, which determined the vector of their historical development. In other words, a pronounced generic component is formed, based on a consanguineous trait. However, the further development of social instincts, due to the awareness of the need to unite families close in mentality into larger ethnic formations to further ensure their survival in a hostile environment, leads to the replacement of the principle of kinship with the principle of neighborhood. The further evolution of ethnic communities invariably generates the politicization of public life. This, in turn, generated qualitative shifts in individual human behavior in a mosaic ethno-cultural environment.

the article analyzes the results of the late Soviet and post-Soviet (1989, 2002, 2010, 2020) population censuses as a source of analysis of the modern ethnodemographic and confessional evolution of the population of one of the most multiethnic Russian regions – the Republic of Bashkortostan. Based on the analysis of data on the quantitative composition of the peoples of the republic over thirty years, a diachronic and synchronous study of the ethnic and confessional evolution of the region's population is carried out based on the predicted ratio of its ethnic and religious identity. Along with the general sample, the development of the urban and rural segments of ethnoconfessional groups is studied. Based on a special study of the ethnodemographic development trends that emerged in the post-Soviet era, recorded during the censuses, peculiar "paradoxes" of the evolution of the region's population are revealed, with regard to Russian and Finno-Ugric ethnic groups. An attempt is made to explain the observed paradoxes from the point of view of the historical and logical approach.

the author’s conclusions are based on the adapted works of various researchers devoted to historical memory and the memory of generations. The work is based on sources of personal origin (“ego documents”), factors and problems of the socio-cultural identity of the generation of Russian millennials of the post-Soviet period are identified, which actualizes further scientific research. The author of this work concludes that the library, as a factor in the formation of the socio-cultural identity of Russian millennials, compiled the traditions and values of society, created a model of the intellectual discourse of the generation through various forms of education and upbringing (conversations about recommended and read books, thematic and entertainment events, reader contests, etc.) along with other primary structures of socialization. The identified reader definitions and reading repertoire allowed the author of the article to construct a characteristic of the reader’s image of the generation of Russian millennials. In general, the socio-economic, political, and cultural changes that took place on the territory of Russia in the 1980s and 2000s (the “new” policy of the state, changes in book publishing, book distribution, the school system, the development of information technology), had a negative impact on the process of becoming millennials, which affected the formation of their social, cultural and reading practices, as well as the socio-cultural identity of the next generation.

this article examines the role of the Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan, R.D. Magomedov Magomedali Magomedovich, in the context of the critical events that took place during the 1998-1999 years. During this time, the republic faced numerous serious challenges, including separatism, terrorism, incursions by armed groups, attempts at illegal seizure of power, as well as an economic crisis and federative risks. These circumstances demanded from the leader not only a high degree of professionalism but also resilience in personal qualities, as the decisions made played a crucial role in stabilizing the situation in the region. An important source of information for this article is materials from the periodical press, which allow for a deeper understanding of the context of events and an assessment of a number of significant decisions made by Magomedali M.M. during this period. These decisions had a profound impact on shaping the political and social environment in Dagestan.

traditional handicraft production has a rich history among Bashkirs. In conditions of the predominance of subsistence farming, it played an important role in the life of the people, providing the population with necessary items, as well as clothing. Since semi-nomadic cattle breeding prevailed in the Bashkir economic activities in the past, wool and animal skins were often used as raw materials, and the presence of significant forests made wood, bast and other materials available. Bashkirs have also long been famous as skilled blacksmiths and jewelers. Over time, under the influence of changes in the economy, with the development of technology, etc., the handicraft activity of Bashkirs inevitably transformed. However, many types of craft, especially women's, continued not only to be preserved, but also to develop and improve. The article, based on the analysis of data contained in questionnaires collected in the mid-1980s in the BASSR during the Bashkir ethnographic expedition, shows the ownership of traditional crafts by Bashkirs and Bashkirs. Among them, it is possible to distinguish more in demand (knitting, embroidery, sewing), as well as gradually disappearing from everyday life (felt making, weaving, cooperage, manufacture of chiseled utensils, etc.). The results obtained can later be used for comparative research within the framework of the RNF project dedicated to the historical and ethnographic study of traditional Bashkir crafts.

after India's independence, Nehru, adhering to the realist diplomacy of non-alignment, decided to quickly recognize the new China and establish diplomatic relations based on practical necessity. But this decision met with resistance from both inside and outside India. The US government, starting from an attitude of hostility to the new China, advised India to hold off on recognizing the new China. The anti-Chinese forces in India were also sceptical of this policy, believing that recognition of the new China would not bring substantial benefits to India and that caution should be exercised because of the conflict between the two countries over Tibet. There was also a process of change in the new Chinese government's perception of the Indian government. Mao Zedong and other leaders held a negative view of the nature of the regime after India's independence, believing that India's independence, which was not achieved by means of a violent revolution but by a peaceful transfer of power, and that the independence granted to India was therefore not independence in the true and full sense of the word, changed its view with the implementation of the Indian government's non-alignment policy. Finally, the two countries negotiated the formal establishment of diplomatic relations.

in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Republic of Bashkortostan was one of the leaders of the so-called "parade of sovereignties". This attracted the attention of not only Russian, but also foreign researchers. Due to the fact that an authoritarian political regime was formed in the republic in those years, local historians and political scientists often did not have the opportunity to give objective assessments of the political situation in Bashkortostan. Therefore, the works of foreign (American and European) researchers are of interest. To analyze the political development of Bashkortostan, they used materials from periodicals, monographs, and conducted their own field research. The scientific results obtained by foreign scientists are important for understanding how the problems of federalism, separatism, nationalism, and the electoral system are studied abroad. Of value are the statistical data collected by these researchers, the content of the interviews, observations of individual aspects of regional political life, as well as forecasts for the development of the political situation in the region and in Russia as a whole. However, the works of foreign scientists are little known to researchers, especially in the Republic of Bashkortostan itself. The purpose of this article is to inform about the most significant publications of foreign historians and political scientists on the post-Soviet development of the region.

the purpose of the article is to analyze the foreign policy of Russia, reflected in the “Concept of foreign policy of the Russian Federation” of 2024 in the framework of cooperation with the People’s Republic of China on topical global issues. In addition, the participation of both countries in BRICS and new trends influencing the formation of a new world order are considered. This article, based on the use of content analysis and discourse analysis methods, reflects the basic meanings and main categories of the “Concept of foreign policy of the Russian Federation” and the “Concept of participation of the Russian Federation in the BRICS association”. The role and influence of the countries of the “Global South” on the formation of a multipolar system is determined. Russia and China, whose policies are based on the principles of non-alignment and non-confrontation, have found a way to implement cooperation based on strategic mutual trust. This model for the development of a new type of international relations between major countries has become an important force in maintaining peace, security, development and prosperity. The BRICS countries hold an important position and influence in the global economy. They have large domestic markets and rich natural resources. China is the second largest economy in the world with strong manufacturing and export potential. In the article, the author specifies that the political landscape is developing towards multipolarity, and the results of the BRICS summit and the new concept of Russia’s foreign policy create conditions for resolving acute conflicts and creating a system of world order that takes into account the interests of all countries.

the article is devoted to the study of political and legal factors of the development of ethnosocial processes that took place at the level of a multinational region – the Republic of Bashkortostan in the 1990s – early 2000s. Ethnosocial processes have incorporated new dynamic and interacting phenomena (social stratification, social well-being of the population, labor motivations of ethnic groups, etc.), emphasizing the specifics of the post-Soviet transformation of the Russian state. The author notes the close links between legal reforms in the field of national policy and the nature of the development of these processes. The work carried out the systematization of the regulatory framework for the implementation of national policy, including legal acts of the federal and regional levels, for example, such as the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, Decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, Resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation, laws of the Republic of Bashkortostan, by-laws of the authorities of the subject of the Federation, etc. Legislative reforms have contributed to strengthening the self-identification of ethnic groups, protecting their rights and interests, preserving cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as generally improving inter-national relations at the republic level. Thus, political and legal measures developed taking into account the national, ethnocultural, social, and linguistic specifics of the region contributed to smoothing out interethnic contradictions and strengthening social stability in society.

the issue of genocide of the Soviet population by the Nazi invaders in the occupied territories of the USSR has become particularly relevant in recent years in the study of the history of the Great Patriotic War. The opening of archival documents allows us to give a more objective analysis of the events of those years and to highlight little-studied issues, especially at the regional level. In modern scientific literature, the issue of Nazi crimes against the civilian population in the areas that became part of the modern Lipetsk region has been practically not studied, which determines the relevance of the research topic. During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazi invaders invaded the territory of the modern Lipetsk region twice - in November-December 1941, during the Battle of Moscow and partially from July 2, 1942 to January 1943. The conducted research established facts of torture of civilians, executions and the use of the death penalty by hanging for the slightest disobedience, burning alive of children and the elderly, widespread plundering and destruction of material and cultural values, destruction of the health care system and food supply, which contributed to an increase in mortality among the civilian population from subsequent diseases and hunger. The number of victims of Nazi crimes in the region is estimated at three thousand people. On July 25, 2024, the Lipetsk Regional Court, in order to protect the national interests of the Russian Federation, as well as to restore historical justice, recognized the actions of the Nazi invaders on the territory of the modern Lipetsk region as genocide. This article, based on the analysis of archival documents and eyewitness accounts, provides a detailed study of the scale of economic crimes committed by the Nazis during the occupation and affecting the lives of thousands of civilians. The author of the article emphasizes the need to study the problems of genocide in order to preserve the historical memory of the crimes of the Nazi invaders in order to counter the spread of fascist ideology in modern society.

in this article, we have reviewed in detail and comprehensively highlighted the military skills and strategic talents of one of the most outstanding and famous military leaders, who left an indelible mark in the history of military art. We are talking about Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, whose biography is a vivid example of military genius and indomitable will to win. The text of the article pays special attention to the key moments and decisive stages of the military career, as well as significant events in the life of G.K. Zhukov. Let us dwell in detail on his active participation in such significant historical events as the First World War, the Civil War, as well as in the Great Patriotic War. Each of these periods became an important milestone in Zhukov's development as a true commander, whose decisions and actions had a decisive impact on the course of military campaigns and the outcome of battles. The article not only lists the facts of Zhukov's biography, but also analyzes his contribution to military affairs, his strategic and tactical findings, which are still being studied by military historians and practitioners.