Vol 8, No 7 (2025)

this article is devoted to the analysis of the evolution of the study of the phenomenon of fascism in contemporary foreign historiography and political science. It is emphasized that research has moved away from the simplified models of the Cold War era, such as the Marxist interpretation and the theory of totalitarianism. Modern humanities seek an interdisciplinary and multifaceted understanding of the essence of fascism, its ideological roots, social base, and potential for revival in new forms, driven by current political challenges. As the methodological basis of the modern approach, the article examines comparative studies aimed at identifying the “generic fascism.” Key analytical tools reviewed include Roger Griffin’s concept of “palingenetic ultranationalism,” which defines fascism as a revolutionary ideology of national rebirth, and Stanley Payne’s typological approach. The latter allows for the flexible classification of movements based on their ideology, negations (antiliberalism, anti-communism), and stylistic features, distinguishing fascism from conservative dictatorships. The analysis presents the main results of recent research. It considers Robert Paxton’s functionalist approach, which studies fascism as a dynamic process of five stages, and Emilio Gentile’s concept of “political religion,” which emphasizes rituals and myths. It is shown that the social base of fascism was heterogeneous and cross-class, not limited to the petty bourgeoisie. Gender studies are also highlighted, demonstrating contradictory policies toward women, as well as analyses of the economy, which was subordinated to the political goals of the state rather than adhering to a strict doctrine. The geographical boundaries of the term’s application are discussed, along with the introduction of the concepts of “parafascism” and “clerical fascism”.

the article analyzes the historical stages of the establishment and development of boxing in Russia and the Republic of Mordovia. The origins of this sport are examined, beginning with ancient fistfights and the formation of classical English boxing in the eighteenth century, as well as the process of its dissemination in Russia. Special attention is paid to the regional context: the emergence of the first boxing sections in Mordovia in the 1930s, organizational and staffing difficulties, and the contribution of coach V.D. Mikhailov and his students to the formation of a local boxing school. Based on archival sources and eyewitness accounts, the dynamics of section development, the achievements of athletes in national and international tournaments, and the factors of the 1990s crisis and subsequent revival in the 21st century are revealed. The study concludes that the current stage of boxing development in Mordovia is characterized by a combination of state support and coaching initiatives, while advancement to the international level requires systematic training programs and the involvement of young athletes.

the article is devoted to the analysis of the history of the 1762 palace coup in Russia in the work of the French historian Pierre-Charles Levesque (1736–1812) "Histoire de Russie". Leveque carefully studied the written sources available to him about this event, but, having discovered inaccuracies in them, he turned to the oral testimonies of eyewitnesses. His work became the first scientific reconstruction of Catherine II's rise to power in world historiography. Leveque sought to give a more objective assessment of Emperor Peter III, who was often portrayed as a willful and stupid person in pre-revolutionary and Soviet historiography. The French scientist notes that during the short period of his reign, Peter III carried out important reforms, including the exemption of nobles from compulsory public service. However, Leveque does not hide the negative personality traits of the emperor. After examining various sources about Catherine II's involvement in her husband's death, Levesque comes to the conclusion that she did not want him to die. New documents on the history of the palace coup of 1762, which became known later, confirmed many of the conclusions of the French scientist.

the article examines the representation of the image of the "other" in the British and Russian periodicals of the period of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), which became not only a new type of war that anticipated the conflicts of the 20th century, but also the first "media" confrontation, where the press played a key role in shaping public perception of events, covering the course of hostilities. on a daily basis. The author paid special attention to a comparative analysis of British and Russian sources from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, which made it possible to discover stable media patterns and tools for shaping the image of the "other" in the press of both countries, as well as to trace the national characteristics of the representation of war. The experience of covering the conflict demonstrates the role of the press, which is not just a means of reflecting public sentiment and a passive witness to events, but an active actor in international relations, influencing the perception of foreign policy processes by society.

the article examines the formation of the republican-monarchist debate in the press of the 1960s. It presents a retrospective analysis of the problem of Australian self-awareness development within different political movements. The author analyzes political sentiments in the press using the example of articles from "The Canberra Times" written by its readers, highlighting the main features of Australian republicanism and monarchism through the works of renowned publicists and journalists D. Horne (1921-2005), G. P. Dutton (1922-1998), and W. P. Coleman (1928-2019). A comparative analysis of the aforementioned perspectives led the author to conclude that the confrontation between these two movements had a positive impact on the formation of Australian socio-political discourse and national identity.

the study examines government measures to integrate the Cossacks into the empire's military structure through border protection and participation in military campaigns. The mechanisms of administrative management of Cossack formations and their gradual transformation into regular military units are investigated. The impact of North Caucasus colonization on the development of interethnic contacts among the local population, formation of new economic and cultural ties is noted. The system of fortifications of the Caucasian Line is analyzed, including the dynamics of Cossack garrison numbers at outposts and peculiarities of their material support. The geographical boundaries of the defensive complex are defined, consisting of a network of fortresses, redoubts, and outposts distributed along strategic directions. The effectiveness of various types of fortifications in the context of border territory security is examined. Archival materials from the Central State Archive of the Republic of Dagestan are presented, revealing the organization of material support for Cossack formations. The official documentation of the Kizlyar Commandant's Office is studied, including weekly reports from outposts on personnel movement and supply needs. The documents allow reconstructing the daily service activities of the Cossacks, the nature of tasks performed, and personnel distribution. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the system of food, forage, and military equipment supply. A significant array of previously unpublished sources has been introduced into scientific circulation, allowing detailed research of various aspects of military and economic activities of the Cossacks on the Caucasian Line. Analysis of financial documentation on economic works demonstrates the large-scale involvement of Cossack units by the Russian government for the protection of border territories. The peculiarities of guard duty organization, reconnaissance activities, and interaction with the local population are revealed.

the article discusses the problem of the formation of the GSOFG in 1945-1946. Special attention is paid to the structure and strength of the USSR armed forces on German territory in the post-war period. Special attention is paid to the fact that the GSOFG fulfilled strategic tasks related to the defense of the socialist bloc. The structure of the GSOFG included various types of troops, including tank, motorized rifle and artillery units, as well as air support and reconnaissance units. The main tasks facing the GSOFG ranged from ensuring military security to participating in political governance in their area of responsibility.

the article is devoted to the analysis of the reform of the Russian judicial system at the end of the 20th century, with a focus on the changes in the Far Eastern Federal District. It has been identified that during this period, the judicial system underwent significant structural and functional transformations driven by the transition from the Soviet model to a new legal paradigm. The judicial reform included a revision of the status of judges: principles of irremovability, immunity, and professional independence were introduced. Legislative changes, such as the adoption of the Law «On the Status of Judges in the Russian Federation» established new requirements for judges’ qualifications and ethics. In the Far Eastern region, this led to a gradual renewal of the judicial corps, although problems with personnel shortages and the level of professional training in remote areas persisted. Historically, there were peculiarities in law enforcement here due to geographic remoteness and the multiethnic composition of the population, which gave the reforms a specific character. Overall, the transformation of the judicial system in the Far Eastern Federal District reflected nationwide trends but also had regional specifics related to geographic, economic, and social factors.

the article is devoted to the study of the image of a teacher based on the materials of the "Teachers' Newspaper" of the 1960-1970s. Based on a systematic sample, we identify professional roles and value characteristics of a teacher in the dynamics of two decades. The methodological framework includes thematic content analysis. Operationalization includes three groups of indicators: value qualities, professional roles and social roles. The novelty of the study is that in our approach, the "Teachers' Newspaper" acts as a source of official interpretation of the image of a Soviet teacher and, at the same time, through the genres of notes, letters, reports, it allows us to consider the images of teachers' everyday life. Based on such a platform, we will be able to move on to an analysis of the everyday life of a Soviet teacher, taking into account regional specifics - the everyday life of an Irkutsk teacher in the 1960-1970s, which will allow us to identify regional shifts: which elements of the official image in Irkutsk are being strengthened, adapted or failing.

this study is devoted to the analysis of draft reforms for the judicial and investigative system developed by the Legislative сommission of the 1720s. This institution was established to prepare a new law code to replace the outdated Sobornoye Ulozheniye (Council Code) of 1649. The research focuses on the question of the reception of Western European legal experience, examined through the lens of developing the section «On the Process in Criminal, or Inquisitorial and Torture Cases». The study sequentially examines three redactions of this section, including the draft by the German jurist in Russian service, E. Krompein. This draft proposed an innovative concept for Russian practice – that of priznaki (grounds for suspicion) – a system of formal and verifiable justifications for applying torture. The analysis shows that despite the initially critical attitude of the Legislative commission's members towards Western legal experience and their striving to rely on familiar legal sources, the concept of priznaki was ultimately adopted by them. The conclusion is made that the reception of Western legal experience was selective and methodological in nature. Russian officials borrowed not so much specific legal norms but rather the principles of legal drafting and systematization, especially in those areas (such as the regulation of torture) where the need for reform was recognized.

this article examines the history of the Khanty-Mansiysk Blagochinie (Deanery) of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese from the inception of church life in the region to the present day. The primary focus is on the analysis of the main spheres of parish and diocesan life within the Khanty-Mansiysk Deanery: informational, social, missionary, and educational activities. The principal sacred objects housed in the churches of the Deanery are described. Based on the study of numerous accounts from eyewitness participants and information resources of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese, the article demonstrates the progressive growth of church life in the Khanty-Mansiysk Deanery, which attests to the ongoing revival of Orthodoxy in Yugra.

the article examines the foundations of the creation and features of the activities of the Pskov City Military Commissariat in the pre-war years; the reasons for the intensification of mobilization work in the city are analyzed. Based on the archival data of the State Archives of the Pskov Region, the article analyzes the training camps conducted by the military commissariat; the results of these camps; the problematic issues that caused concerns among the leadership staff related to the camps; the reasons for the prompt resolution of the problematic issues of military camps, the execution of orders, and the general conclusions made by the leadership staff of the military departments. The article contains information about the participation of Pskovites in the war against the White Finns; a description of the priority tasks facing the military commissariats after the end of the war with Finland, and the ways to solve them. In addition, the article describes the conduct of defense-mass work in the city; it lists the organizations involved in this work, in addition to the military commissariat. The article also provides archival data on the organization of the military enlistment office's work with conscripts, statistical indicators of conscription, and an analysis of the propaganda component of conscription work, as well as the methods used by the military enlistment office to improve conscription work with the population and the results of these methods.

The Samanid epoch (9th-10th centuries AD) is one of the most prominent themes in modern Tajikistan’s history politics. Along with Zoroastrian culture and Aryan past, references to the Samanids form a specific memory triad. Hence modern Tajikistan appears to be a promising research field within memory studies. One of the peculiar ways memories of the Samanids are being revived today is the representation of their history in poetry. In this article, we are attempting to analyze two collections of poems: “?афт сипе?р” – “Seven Heavenly Spheres”, or “Seven Fortunes” (A. Sayfulloev, 1999) and “Эъ?ози Ра?мон” – “The Miracle of Rahmon (148 authors, 2011) and comment on some literary findings from a historian and anthropologist’s perspective. Another subject worth mentioning is the genre diversity of the poems featured in the books. Among the recurring motifs are: the image of amir Ismail Samani (reigned 892-907 AD) as an ideal ruler, the Sassanid military leader Bahram Chobin, the continuity between the Sassanid and Samanid epochs and modernity, the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, the wall of Bukhara, symbolism of a crown, the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda, and the ancient Iranian concept of farr. Moreover, we are going to focus on stylistical pecularities inspired by classical Persian texts.

this article examines M.S. Vorontsov's diplomacy in the Caucasus, addressing the crisis in Russian policy in the region. Particular attention is paid to Prince M.S. Vorontsov's methods for achieving these objectives. A focus is also placed on the newspaper "Kavkaz" coverage of the siege of Salty and Gergebil, Dagestan. By examining newspaper publications, it is possible to reconstruct the level of understanding of the events by those not directly involved in the armed conflict. This approach allows us to identify which ideological aspects were considered paramount and how they were reflected in the regional press. It is important to note that the main ideological tenets of "Kavkaz" were strengthening the imperial image, glorifying the army and its commanders, demonstrating military effectiveness, minimizing one's own failures, and creating a negative image of the enemy. Thus, "Kavkaz" acted as a conduit for government policy, striving to present the Russian Empire as a force capable of ensuring peace in the Caucasus.

the article examines the problem of systematizing a section of the school curriculum devoted to the history of the Russo-Turkish wars, which is significant in its scope and invariably poses difficulties for students (especially in the context of final examinations at the BSE and USE levels). The authors of the article propose to systematize thirteen Russo-Turkish military conflicts by identifying three historical stages in their history based on an analysis of such criteria as: a general description of the state of the Ottoman Empire and the Russian state, allowing the teacher and students to assess the balance of power of the opposing sides at each stage; the strategy and tactics of military confrontation determined by the above-mentioned factors and the course of military operations themselves; and the historical results and consequences of the Russo-Turkish confrontation. Ultimately, the article, in relation to the requirements of the school curriculum, analyzes the confrontation between the Muscovite Tsardom and the Ottoman Empire in the 16th-17th centuries, the confrontation between Russia and Turkey from the end of the 17th century and throughout the 18th century, as well as the late imperial stage of the confrontation between the two great powers in the 19th and first decades of the 20th centuries.

this article provides a comprehensive source study analysis of the documentary base on the history of the Yakut Republican Organization of OSOAVIAKHIM for the period 1927-1948. The research is based on previously unpublished materials from the National Archive of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and municipal archives, introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. Particular attention is paid to a critical analysis of the representativeness of various source groups, primarily official reporting documentation, which concealed the organization's actual state of affairs behind impressive statistics. The author details the methodology of source criticism, which makes it possible to identify, beyond the formal indicators, such characteristic phenomena as widespread formalism, systemic data falsification, and the fictitious nature of the activities of many primary organizations. The study argues for the necessity of a comprehensive use of diverse source types – reporting documents, internal correspondence, audit materials, local periodicals, and memoirs – to reconstruct an objective picture of OSOAVIAKHIM's activities in the specific conditions of Yakutia. The developed methodology allows for overcoming the limitations of official statistics and revealing the real mechanisms of the organization's functioning. The article makes a significant contribution to the development of source studies concerning the history of Soviet public organizations by proposing new approaches to working with documents from the totalitarian era. The obtained results are important for studying not only the history of the defense society but also the broader issues of the center-periphery interaction within the Soviet administrative system.

the article deals with the problem of the withdrawal of the Western Group of Forces from Germany in 1994. The withdrawal of the WGF in 1994 is considered not as an isolated event, but as a strategic "turn to the East" – the forced abandonment of the role of the central power in Europe and the beginning of the search for a new identity in a changed world. The article examines the dual consequences of this step: on the one hand, it laid the foundation for new relations with a united Germany, and on the other, it turned into large – social problems and became a symbol of geopolitical defeat. In conclusion, the article concludes that the end of the "German" page of history has become a painful but necessary starting point for Russia, which predetermined its further foreign policy strategy and its place in the international system.

the article is devoted to the study of the image of Western countries created on the pages of the famous Soviet magazine "International Literature magazine", published in the USSR from 1933 to 1943 under this name, and from 1955 to 1991 under the name "Foreign Literature". The publication of the magazine continues today, but we are interested in the Soviet period of its existence. The paper analyzes the key topics discussed in the journal, which reveal the image of Western society. The main ones are: theme the morality of marriage and family relations in capitalist society, the topic of loneliness and selfishness of a "Western" person, as well as a discussion of the capitalist system itself, its general impact on its inhabitants. The purpose of the work is to describe the image of bourgeois society that has developed on the pages of the International Literature magazine. In the course of writing the work, both general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, systematization) and special historical methods such as diachronic, historical and comparative were used. In conclusion of the article The author makes a conclusion about the changing image of Western countries on the pages of the magazine. A connection is made between the "emancipation" of Soviet society in the last years of the USSR and the change in the image of the West in the magazine's publications.

the article is devoted to the analysis of the representation of the attack on Pearl Harbor in foreign cinema as an important tool for the formation of cultural memory and public perception of historical events. The evolution of cinematic interpretations is considered on the example of two key films "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970) and "Pearl Harbor" (2001). The first film is analyzed as an example of the desire for documentary accuracy and objectivity, demonstrating events on both sides of the conflict and relying on a broad source base. The second film, on the contrary, is an example of the dramatization and romanticization of history, where historical authenticity is sacrificed for entertainment and emotional impact on a mass audience. The purpose of this article is to conduct the evolution of the cinematic approach through a comparative analysis of the two films: from an attempt at an impartial reconstruction of events and their causes in "Tora! The Torah! Tora!" before creating a large-scale patriotic saga in Pearl Harbor, where the historical background serves only as an entourage for a personal drama. This transition from "facts to emotions" not only reflects the changing cultural demands of the audience and the technological capabilities of cinema, but also directly affects the formation of mass historical consciousness, often replacing the complexity of the past with mythologized and simplified images.

the purpose of the article is to consider the peculiarities of the spread of innovations in landlord farms in the Tambov province in the late 19th – early 20th century. The role of public organizations that contributed to the spread of intensive technologies and the introduction of agrotechnical innovations in large farms is determined. The files of the Fund of the Inspector of Agriculture of the Tambov Province of the State Archive of the Tambov Region, dedicated to innovations in agriculture (including the peculiarities of growing individual crops) and agricultural courses, have been put into scientific use. The interaction of large latifundists and organizers of agricultural courses is analyzed. The influence of exhibition activities (which included both agricultural and livestock products, as well as a selection of fertilizers and agricultural machinery) on the development of landed estates is characterized. Based on the wide representation of owners and managers of large estates in the structure, it is concluded that both large landowners and the employees of these estates themselves are interested in improving their professional skills, exchanging experience, and seeking to establish business contacts. Based on the above material, it is argued that the modernization of the landed estates of the Tambov province was closely linked to the economic activities of public and zemstvo organizations that spread agrotechnical innovations in the region.