Problems of industrial development of Russia in a boundary XIX-XX centuries in a modern western historiography

Problems of economic development of Russia and economic policy of its authorities in the end XIX - beginning XX century always drew steadfast attention both domestic, and foreign historians, because estimation of process of social and economic modernization of the country in many respects predetermined the answer to one of key questions of the Russian history: was Russian revolution inevitable or not. In the western historiography polemic between the "optimists" believing proceeds, that Russian empire on a boundary XIX - XX centuries successfully moved ahead on a way of modernization, and the "pessimists", convinced that features of economic development of the country and specificity of political system of Russia of beginning XX of a century did crash of imperial modernization inevitable. All declares itself a "revisionist" direction which representatives, not denying difficulties of the Russian modernization, recognize its limited successes more actively. These disputes proceed and in the beginning of XXI century thus it is possible to note, that quantity of the researchers, adhering the "pessimistic" point of view, in comparison with the period of the end 1980 - the beginnings of 1990th, has increased; we believe, that not in the last instance it is connected with obvious «disappointment in Russia» public opinion of the countries of the West. Last years it is possible to note occurrence of a plenty of researches of generalizing character on problems of the Russian modernization, history Russian реформаторства, etc. in which XIX - century the essential attention is paid questions of economic development of Russia of the end beginnings XX. The significant part of the published works is devoted to the state activity of two largest reformers - S.Witte and P.Stolypin. At the same time. Even more often, alongside with historians, works on problems of economic history of Russia of the considered period are published by researchers-economists.. Such problems, as "price" of modernization for the majority of the population of Russia, values and consequences of the governmental policy, the had purpose speeding up of industrialization, equation in development of the industry and an agriculture, changes in social structure of a society and (in this connection) presence (or absence) an essential social base of reforms, still remain in the center of attention of the western historians. Thus, despite of noted prevalence of "pessimistic" estimations, rather substantial polemic on the specified problems proceeds.

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