Problems of local government in the socio-political thought of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century 

Andrey S. Minakov, Doctor of historical sciences, professor of the sub-department of Russian history, head of the Directorate for the Study of History of MPSU, Moscow Pedagogical State University (building 1, 1 Malaya Pirogovskaya street, Moscow, Russia); leading researcher of the Center “Russian history of the 19th – early 20th centuries”, Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences (19 Dmitriya Ulyanova street, Moscow, Russia),  minakovas@bk.ru

Background. The study is necessary to uncover a big problem about the nature of systemic crises, as well as the causes and prerequisites of the revolutionary collapse of imperial statehood in Russia. The purpose of the work is to characterize the views of representatives of various trends of socio-political thought in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century on the problems of local government. Materials and methods. The objectives were achieved based on the analysis of publications of political and scientific figures of the early 20th century. The work is written on the basis of the methods of historicism, the multidimensionality of the historical process, using modern methods of scientific research. Results. The attitude of representatives of different social views to the problems of local government and ways of its reform is studied: conservatives, liberals (including university professors), enlightened bureaucracy, etc. Their most key theoretical messages are identified: the need for reforms, the personnel issue, the relationship between the administration and self-government bodies. Conclusions. The study of the views of representatives of various directions of socio-political thought on the problems of local government at the beginning of the twentieth century showed an intensive transformation of civil law thought and the activity of public opinion in understanding the need to update the state structure.

 reforms, local government, society, state, bureaucracy, autocracy, governor, selfgovernment

Minakov A.S. Problems of local government in the socio-political thought of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Gumanitarnye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Humanities. 2023;(2):41–53. (In Russ.). doi: 10.21685/2072-3024-2023-2-5