Nikolay V. Romanovskiy

B. N. Mironov's works on the history of our motherland attract our attention by the professional skill of a historian and his desire to put into practice interdisciplinary opportunities of history and sociology. He is a regular contributor to the journal, its thematic section, in particular, "Historical Sociology". This book is characterized by the desire to present the reader with the author's vision of the social trends of the country's development over several centuries. A look into the depths of history gives the reader new incentives to deeper understand the origins of modern problems of the country, the lessons of history important for its uncertain future. The concept of "modernization" was criticized in the course of discussion: author used it, meanwhile, as theoretical framework to understand and interpret social progress of the country in the centuries of its history to this day. This is, one might argue, a basis competing with alternatives elaborated currently by social scholars - to develop strategy for the modern Russia.