The Value of Revising the Ideas of B.N. Chicherin for Russian Political Science

In this work, based on the comparative legal and historical-biographical method, the theoretical studies of B. N. Chicherin devoted to the study of the history of political doctrines, party building, political ideologies, parliamentarism, local government, and international relations are considered. Chicherin was a rare example of a philosopher in power who was able to apply his deep theoretical knowledge in practice, working as a vowel of the Tambov Zemstvo and the mayor of Moscow. The article analyzes Chicherin’s political science legacy presented in his works: “The History of political teachings”, “The Course of State Science”, “On People’s Representation”, “Philosophy of Law”. Within this framework, Chicherin’s key ideas about a strong rule of law, respect for individual rights, features of liberalism and conservatism, government responsibility to the people, the rule of law, and local self-government are highlighted and described. The author comes to the conclusion that the formation of political science in Russia owes much to B. N. Chicherin, who developed fundamental connections in power relations, middle-level theories and applied theories. Modern Russian curricula in political science can be enriched by the postulates of the political and philosophical teachings of B. N. Chicherin. The revision of Chicherin’s ideas allows for a deeper understanding of historical and political processes in Russia, as well as to assess his contribution to the development of political science. The research underscores the pertinence of Chicherin’s conceptual framework within the contemporary political processes, particularly in the domains of legal state development, civil rights protection, and local self-government system enhancement. The intellectual legacy of the philosopher constitutes a valuable resource for the further advancement of political theory and praxis in the Russian Federation.

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