KONSTANTIN KAVELIN ON HISTORICAL FEATURES OF RUSSIAN STATEHOOD

Abstract

The article is dedicated to Konstantin Kavelin, widely recognized for his works in public administration, pedagogy and science. Being one of the major Russian scholars of 1840s - 1880s, he has founded a public (historical) law school. His research concerned the development of Russian statehood in the context of the world history and advanced the ideas and projects that responded to immediate practical need for renovation and reforms in Russia in the second part of the 19^th century. Kavelin was the first in Russian history to define the sence of national development as a comprehensive development of personality, which ultimately determins human freedom in civil society and, consequently, the degree of social progress achieved. Regarding the abolition of serfdom as the beginning of a new stage in Russia's development, he contended that eather the previous history was a history of policy and state. The scientist had emphasized the importance of local governance development, describing it as a tool of convergence of classes, which in his opinion was to be the basis for a new order.