Modernization of the Russian North. Historical Experience for the Future Russia

Abstract

This article characterizes the materials of two round tables that took place in Moscow on 31 March and 1 April 2022 and were devoted to the problems of the historical past, the present and prospects for development of the Russian North. The first round table, which was organized by the Russian Military Historical Society and held in the Moscow book club “Dostoevsky” was attended by scholars, historians, political scientists and economists from Arkhangelsk, Ukhta, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Primary attention was given to the book The Arctic Pearl of the Empire: The Russian North in the Era of Reforms, Revolutions and World War I issued in 2022 as part of the Library of the Russian Military Historical Society series. The following questions were raised and discussed: problems of development of the northern provinces, exploration of the Arctic and Northeast Passage/Northern Sea Route during almost forty years in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as attempts and results of modernization and their historical lessons for the present. The second round table, which was held on the Russian TV channel Kultura, continued the discussion on the topics of history and contemporary processes taking place in the North of Russia and the Arctic.