Abstract: the article is devoted to analysis of the fundamental concepts of the famous statesman Witte, S.U. on the nature of Russian government and its relations in the second half of XIX century with the local self-governments – zemsky peasant communities, which were established during the reforms in 1864.

Keywords: history, Witte, domestic state, power, peasant communities, “nation state“, F. Liszt, the nation, reforms, constitutionalism

Abstract: the article examines the social features of the Russian intelligentsia in the middle of the XIX century. The author points out that the ideological setting of the intelligentsia were not contrary to industrial progress in Russia, but expressed and theoretically sanctioned the overcome of its social consequences. Since they were generated by the modernization itself, the intellectuals were looking for theoretical models of overcoming the barbaric nature of capitalist reconstruction of Russia.

Keywords: history, populism, intellectuals, socialism, modernization, science, opinions and interests, repentant nobles and men of honor, mind and feelings, people and nation

Abstract: the article focuses on the fate of the captured German archives, displaced after the Second World War to the Soviet territory. The composition and characteristics of the German archives, currently located in the Russian Federation are provided.

Keywords: archiving, archives, Germany, USSR, fund, transfer, restitution, reich, occupation, regional studies

Abstract: The article explains the concept of “two-stage burial ritualism”; based on the example of Japan, Okinawa, China and other cultures of the Asian-Pacific Region the phenomenon of such ritual in traditional societies is considered as the historical-cultural problem. It is shown that in these societies, body and its remains are manipulated in a two-stage process of funeral rites, a symbol of their cultural systems.

Keywords: history, two-stage burial ritualism, traditional societies, Japan, Okinawa, China, Asia-Pacific Region, body, ancestors, deities

Abstract: The article focuses on the fate of officers of the Russian Guards army after1917. Author analyzes their participation in the Civil War, and in the organization of regimental unions in exile and the activities of these associations.

Keywords: history, officers, guards, immigration, infantry, cavalry, artillery, Russia, war, union

Abstract: The article is dedicated to the formation of counter-elite in the ruling class of Russian society in connection with the debate and radical socio-economic reforms initiated by the abolition of serfdom. The reforms failed to solve many problems of development of agrarian sector of Russia. Attempts to overcome them in the existing political system led to serious contradictions and struggles within the ruling elite: nobles, officials, agricultural intelligentsia, to a gradual formation of the so-called “counter-elite”.

Keywords: history, reform, the abolition, society, nobility, peasantry, power, elite, development, people

Abstract: The article deals with the participation of one of the major theorists of Russian liberalism, Kavelin K.D., in the preparation of the abolition of serfdom. The various aspects of his opposition activities are analyzed. Particular attention is given to his model of post-reform modernization of the state.

Keywords: history, reform, serfdom, peasantry, liberalism, freedom, person, community, modernization, radicalism

Abstract: Kosovo declared independence on Feb. 17th, 2008. International mediators have formulated the problem — to create a multicultural and multi-ethnic community in a newly independent state. Is this a feasible task for today, considering that the Serbian population in the majority does not recognize the independence of Kosovo from Serbia? How is the life of the Serbian population in Kosovo? Can we talk about the gradual establishing Albanian-Serb dialogue? What are the prospects for the consolidation of Kosovo’s society? How strong is the resource of Kosovo identity? Writing of this article was supported by the Russian Humanitarian Scientific Fund (project number 10-01-00316a).

Keywords: history, Kosovo, ethnicity, conflict, Albanians, Serbs, integration, minorities, the Balkans, state

Abstract: The article includes characteristic features of the civil wars in Africa during the Cold War and after its completion. It identifies the causes, driving forces, both external and internal factors, stages and effects. The attempt to determine the historical significance of the civil wars in the political and social evolution of the Black continent is made. This article was prepared with the support from the National Science Foundation Research University “Higher School of Economics”: Project ¹ 10-01-0073 “Genocide as a political decision in the era of globalization (as an example of the Central African region)”.

Keywords: history, Africa, post-colonial epoch, civil wars, “cold war”, authoritarianism, conflict, representatives, democracy, genocide, ethnicisation

Abstract: The article highlights the formation and history of the construction of fortifications on the southern borders of Muscovy. It shows how it was delivered to the bearing of a guard and garrison duty, what measures were taken to protect the borders against incursions from outside, what importance the government attached abates service.

Keywords: history, the national military history, national defense, patrol units and the villages, abatis, abatis boundaries, fortress cities, abates service, the system of fortifications, abatis construction, garrisons of the fortresses

Abstract: the article analyzes the key trends in contemporary intellectual culture of Islam, highlights the main vectors of its development (traditionalism, modernism, fundamentalism). A comparative analysis of concepts of modernist Muhammad Iqbal and fundamentalist Sayyid Qutb is given.

Keywords: history, islam, modernization, tradition, jadids, salafiyya, Koran, sharia, culture

Abstract: The article is devoted to the relation of the Vietnamese state of the Nguy n dinusty with the two neigbrouring mountain jarai kingdoms (of Water and of Fire). Based of the analysis of the primary sources, the author shows that from the Vietnamese side the attitude was sovereignty-protective and from the proto-states of Water and Fire it was vassal-tributary and on their part it was complemented by magic, with which they tried to protect themselves from their mighty neigbours.

Keywords: history, East, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Nguy n, Jarai, diplomacy, practices, beliefs, rituals

Abstract: The article includes analysis of the policy documents of major political parties of the Russian Empire in the beginning of the twentieth century in terms of design and definition of a vision of economical, social and political modernization. Particular attention is paid to the presence of a retrospective analysis of Russian society in the post-reform time and at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in these documents. This approach allows to estimate the value of science-based theory in the development programs of political parties not only in the past, but also in contemporary political life.

Keywords: history, national history, policy papers, political parties, history of programs, retrospective analysis, industrial modernization, definition of tasks, task sequence, the theoretical underpinnings

Abstract: The article investigates the relations between the concepts of “robbery” and “murder” in the Russian Pravda. Substantiated that the in “Russian Pravda” the duel, battle, combat was called a “robbery”. Laws pursuing robbery “without fault”, establishes criminal liability for malicious (unjustified, unfair) armed attack on another person without regard to consequences, which offset the offensive themselves. Later malice was an additional internal feature of the concept.

Keywords: history, robbery, thief, murder, fight, combat, truth, article, battle, attack