Reflection of the Russian Empire Social Policy (1861–1914)
 in English-American Historiography

Abstract

The article analyzes English and American researchers’ works which reflected the factors that influenced the formation of the state social policy of the Russian Empire in 1861–1914 and its individual aspects. It is noted that in studies on institutional history foreign scholars point to the problems in organizing the system of local government and self-government, which negatively affected the development
 of the social sphere. These drawbacks include the lack of institutional unity between the various branches of government and a single strategic purpose for the
 state development, the inability of various institutions of power to provide an effective solution to the problems of the population. These issues are indicated by A. Verner, N. Weissman, T. Pearson and others. The works of this direction contain
 negative or neutral assessments of the state internal policy, which included social policy. Its certain aspects have also received coverage in the studies on social history. In foreign historiography attention was paid to such problems as the development of charity in the Russian Empire and the situation of children, as and the healthcare system. For understanding the essence of the state social policy, the conclusions made by A. Lindenmeyr are of particular value. She points to gradual rationalization of assistance to the people in need as well as maintaining the general control of the state over its development. B. Gorshkov, analyzing the problem of child labor in the Russian Empire, for the first time affects the actual social policy of the state. He emphasizes that in this direction, state institutions and the public
 have managed to establish successful cooperation and achieve positive results.