AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ABOUT ALTERNATIVES OF RUSSIAN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE XX CENTURY
The article discusses the concepts of famous American historians and political scientists representing various schools of Russian studies, interpreting in different ways the possibilities of social development of Russia. Each of the researchers made a tangible contribution to the Western perception of Russian history and politics, which is relevant for the modern understanding of Russia and its development trends. The article analyzes the perception of Russian history by Richard Pipes, one of its most authoritative and influential researchers, who did not see the possibility of political modernization in Russia. The position of the American scientist as an adviser to President Reagan on issues of East- European politics could not but affect the attitude of the American administration towards Russia. St. Cohen, who has completely dedicated his academic interests to Russia, and Alexander Yanov, Russian in origin, who feel personally involved in Russian history, each in his own way, interpret the possibilities of alternative ways for Russia's development. Alexander Yanov, considering Russia to be originally a European state, is developing the concept of Russia's place in European civilization. Stephen Cohen sees the potential of alternativeness in the very historical events and personalities of the twentieth century, which he studies and interprets with objectivity and thoroughness inherent in true scientific research. In this article, alternativeness implies the existence of different, sometimes mutually exclusive, trends in social development, each of which can be transformed into reality. It is emphasized that alternativeness is not only related to the study of the past, it acquires special significance for understanding the turning periods of history, when social relations have not yet been established and there are various possibilities for their development.