Historical sociology: promising areas of research

The article examines promising areas of research in historical sociology that expand its scope. At present, particular importance is attached to studying the interconnection between the present, the past, and the future. We live in an era of change unfolding more dynamically than before; however, these changes do not emerge out of nowhere – their origins lie in past trends that shaped the trajectory of historical transformations. Simultaneously, new phenomena and processes are emerging in the present, capable of significantly influencing the shape of the future, thereby increasing the demand for sociological research that integrates the past, present, and future into a single temporal continuum. Such research naturally finds its place within the framework of historical sociology – a discipline that has undergone significant evolution, thoroughly examined in the works of both foreign and domestic scholars. Therefore, based on existing scholarly contributions and an analysis of the current situation, this article places primary emphasis on promising directions for the development of historical sociology aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of our time. The purpose of this article is to identify new problems and tasks facing historical sociology that have become particularly relevant under contemporary conditions – the resolution of which is essential for the sustainable development of Russian society. Based on the analysis conducted, the article formulates the key problem areas of emerging research directions in historical sociology that require further elaboration. One such promising direction may be the study of the state and dynamics of public memory of the past.

historical sociology, sociology of memory, values, historical identity, interpretation of historical events, methodology of historical sociology