DOI: 10.22281/2413-9912-2018-02-01-87-93
Krupenkin Y.N.
The frontier concept in the modern russian literature: heuristic possibilities and application limits
The article considers the present state of the frontier concept in Russia on the basis of a comparative analysis of the works of mostly Russian scientists. Relying on the classic definition of the frontier, Russian researchers expanded understanding of the frontier, denoting a number of features and criteria. However the concept of the frontier began to develop in Russian science only in the last quarter of the century. The article attempts to combine the most important definitions of this concept by modern Russian researchers and to reveal the basic elements of the frontier. Since the concept is applicable to the process of expanding borders, in the broadest sense of the word (“native” – “alien”), it seems possible that it can be used in studying the process of expanding Russian imperial borders on the outskirts of the Russian Empire. Clear criteria for the frontier are needed for that; it is important to determine its types in order to define the components of Russian domestic and foreign policies, studying the process of advance of the Russian Empire to its borders. The Asian direction of Russian foreign and, then, domestic policy requires special consideration, because it has never been studied from the point of view of the frontier theory. Nowadays, when the historical science accumulated numerous narrative material on the history of colonization, its interpretation by means of the frontier methodology seems actual and interesting.
Keywords: frontier, F. J. Turner, Russian Empire, 19th century, colonization, typology of the frontier, criteria for the frontier, border.

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