“New Historical Demography” in Russia: evolution or a leap?

Abstract

The article examines the main features of the “New Historical Demography” which developed in Russia during the 1990s. The authors analyze factors and trends in social science and the humanities that have influenced the formation of this new research strand and review the main problem issues related to its definition, status and methodology, as well as its impact on alterations in the primary source base, methods and tools of historical demographic inquiry. Modern Russian centers involved in “new historical demographic” research are presented in the European comparative perspective. The authors conclude that historical demography has become a driving force behind introducing computer technologies in historical research. The article notes certain successes of “New Historical Demography” in Russia, but emphasizes the need to shift from “extensive” to “intensive” development, and suggests integration with modern European historical demographic programs and the transition from local to pan-Russian databases as means to achieve this.

Keywords

• historical microdata
• demographic databases
• Russian historical demography
• parish registers and census data
• computer science and informat ion technologies