The legal elite of Tomsk in the early twentieth century: contra the revolution (based on theoretical writings by I.A. Malinovskiy and I.V. Mikhailovskiy)

The article attempts to present some ideas expressed by the Tomsk University professors of law I.V. Mikhailovskiy and I.A. Ma-linovskiy with regard to the revolution, thus bringing an anthropological dimension to the reconstruction of the socio-cultural context of the era at its turning point. The use of their scientific and journalistic works, published texts of their lectures and reports as sources allowed to demonstrate the way of their thinking and feeling. Through such means of mass communications as periodicals, university lectures and public speeches, the intellectuals could influence the mindset of the public. In this respect, the study of their interpretations of revolutionary events is of interest as part of an integrated research into social expectations and moods of Tomsk residents in the early twentieth century. The analysis of these intellectuals' published works showed their unanimity in the rejection of violence and political confrontation. Justifying their negative attitudes to the revolution, the two used argumentation as experts in an original way. I.V. Mikhailovskiy, a specialist in philosophy and general theory of law, defended the principles of evolutionism and social compromise drawing on key theses of Hegelian dialectics and neo-Hegelianism. I.A. Malinovskiy, whose research interests dealt with the history of Russian law, emphasised the unlawful nature of violent means in the political struggle. They both were of an opinion that it was necessary to prevent the revolution because of its possible catastrophic consequences. Drawing attention to the negative ethical and moral effects of using violence, the professors proposed reforms of the social and political system along with the intelligentsia's educational activities targeted at the general public as preventative measures. Characteristic of their concept of 'social education' was an emphasis on the development of legal consciousness, cultivation of the sense of legitimacy, and respect for law. The research interests and the very subject of Russian legal specialists' intellectual reflection contributed to the formation of a worldview whereby law was to be a crucial means of social regulation. This allows to hypothesise that the negative attitude to the social revolution in Russia in the early twentieth century constituted one of the significant markers of the legal elite's collective identity. The model of the state's social reorganisation proposed by them resonated with certain circles of the public and thus can be considered as one of the elements of public consciousness; without taking this element into account, one cannot arrive at a comprehensive reconstruction of the socio-cultural context of the Russian revolution.

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