Genesis of US Foreign Policy: Theme in Works of Russian Researchers of 19th — Early 20th Centuries

Abstract

The results of the evolution of the perception of US foreign policy genesis study in the historiography of pre-revolutionary Russia are presented. Relevance is determined by filling a gap in world scientific thought. The novelty lies in the fact that for the first time a review of the development of the topic in Russia before 1917 was compiled. Three findings were obtained as a result of the study. Firstly, it was established that V. N. Aleksandrenko, L. N. Demis, E. F. Zyablovsky, N. P. Ivanov, I. I. Ivanovsky, S. A. Kotlyarevsky were engaged in the study of the topic. These scientists were not bound by the framework of scientific schools; when considering the topic, they did not refer to each other. Secondly, bursts of interest in the topic are identified and characterized (early 1830s, 1850s—1870s, 1900s—1910s). Thirdly, a general assessment of the historiography of the topic development is given. For example, it is argued that the development of the topic in the pre-revolutionary period was characterized by a lack of new scientific results and a low intensity of academic interest (intervals between publications averaged 20—30 years). It is shown that the developments of pre-revolutionary historiography were not interrupted and were transferred to the historical science of the USSR.

Keywords

• us foreign policy
• genesis
• pre-revolutionary historiography
• balance of power approach
• russian empire