The construction of the Caspian - Black sea pipeline: the choice of economic strategy of development of Rrussia in the second half of the 19-th century

The importance of the studied problem is defined by the fact that state policy of the Russian Empire in the oil sphere in many respects defined the character and rates of the branch development, stages of its evolution and the course of industrialization in general. The research objective is to use various documents including those introduced for the first time for scientific purpose to carry out the analysis of reasons, main stages and results of long opposition of a part of Russian government officials, scientists and businessmen in the second half of the 19-th century concerning expediency of construction of the Caspian and Black Sea pipeline for transportation of oil or oil products. Studying the documents from the funds of the Russian State Historical Archive allows to consider the points of view of all the opponents with a bigger degree of reliability and objectivity, to define the reasons for taking these or those decisions at the government level. The article introduces the arguments of the Ministry of State Property and the Ministry of Finance supporting various positions regarding the type of Baku-Batumi pipeline (kerosene or oil pipeline) and the sources financing this project. The conclusion that sharpness of discussions in scientific and enterprise community, a departmental antagonism were caused not only by self-seeking interests of petroleum producers, but also search of the most optimal strategy of Russian modernization: development of its own industrial production or export of crude oil and receiving the momentary profit received both by oil producers and treasury is well-grounded. The result of the victory of the supporters of construction of Caspian and Black Sea kerosene pipe who considered non-oil model of development to be more prospective led to rapid growth of Russian oil production and oil processing, its modernization and preservation of former structure of oil export. Active state participation when carrying out industrialization, involvement of Russian scientists and businessmen in formation of conceptual basis of the state industrial policy caused creation of competitive oil branch in Russia that provided a considerable share of all world production in the beginning of the XX century; formation of industrial base of the country and acceleration of modernization processes. Support of development of oil branch by the government; ensuring national character of industrial, scientific, technical and personnel potential; implementation of decisive protectionist policy are among the factors that defined the progress of this stage of Russian modernization.

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