Barkovskaya Elena

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.

The main lines of the activities of the three Russian governor-generals, prominent military officials and administrators are covered in the article. All of them (Alexander Menshikov, Grigory Potyomkin, Nikita Muravyov) have made an important contribution to the economic growth and cultural development of the regions that fell within the borders of Russia as it was moving forward towards the Baltic and Black Seas, as well as to the Pacific Ocean.

The article is devoted to the modern role of Islamic administrative culture. Special attention is given to the problem of traditional values in the contemporary context of compatibility of islam and democratization.