“New Historical Demography” in Russia: Evolution or a Leap in Development?

Abstract

The article studies the main factors that determine and characterize the “new historical demography” which formed in Russia in the 1990s. The authors analyse factors and trends in social science and the humanities that have influenced the formation of the “new historical demography” and review the main issues related to its definition, status and methodology. The authors also analyse the changes of the source base, methods and technologies of historical and demographic research as well as their influence on the research field alteration. On the basis of historiographic analysis of Russian studies, the authors present comparative data on modern Russian centres involved in historical and demographic research. The European and Russian research practices are compared. The authors conclude that historical demography has become a locomotive and a driving force for introducing computer technologies in historical research. One can see a worldwide qualitative leap in historical and demographic research as far as the expansion of issues and methodological and methodical tools are concerned. The article notes certain achievements of “new historical demography” in Russia, but emphasizes the necessity to shift from the extensive to the intensive development that means integration with modern European programmes and transition from local databases and research to all-Russian ones.

Keywords

• историческая демография
• история
• методология
• метрические книги
• базы данных.