Historical process of modernization of Russia and the Petersburg Academy of Science

The article is about the contribution of Petersburg scientists to the historical process of the Russian society modernization. The Petersburg Academy of Sciences, which in the first decades of its existence mainly had West European, predominantly German, scientists, in post-Peter's time was the engine of public processes in Russia. The western scientists brought not only knowledge, but also samples of the western public life organization. Formed in other social environment, brought up in other public relations, they did not want to accept the rules imposed on them. The claims they put to the Russian government concerned self-government of the Academy and the rights of scientists as foreigners. For twenty years scientists did not give up the attempts to win. The government did not pay attention to the demarches until 1745 when the accumulated discontent led to defiance. The scientists demanded to reform the Academy - give self-government, liquidate bureaucratic institutes, provide employees with social protection, bring academic facilities in accordance with the progress requirements. The program document of the movement, December "Report" of 1745, contained the ideas far advancing that time. Despite the defeat, the Petersburg scientists' movement was, according to the author, a dramatic event in the history of the Russian and European science. It showed to the world an impressive example of fight for civil rights. The ideological banner of fight against the Russian bureaucracy was Peter I's reformatory ideas. In the article features of the historical phenomenon the author named corporate movement of scientists are investigated. Going to Russia, West European scientists did not intend, according to the author, to take part in politics. However, the circumstances they faced, forced them to change life plans and to fight for the social rights. They were not radicals in the modern meaning of this word. Their fight was not consecutive and free from mistakes. However, it is these scientists, the author claims, that should be recognized as the pioneers in democratic traditions of Russia. The fight, started by the Petersburg scientists, covered a wide social field. The Court, the Senate, the capital nobility, Petersburg commoners and foreign scientists were involved in it.

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