Ishchenko Z. Franco-Russian antagonism in Central and Southeastern Europe (end of XVIII - early XIX centuries).

The core characteristics and consequences of the Franco-Russian geopolitical antagonism in Central and Southeastern Europe at the end of XVIII - early XIX centuries has been studied on the basis of archival and published sources. The system of measures used by governments of Russia and France to legitimize their foreign policy in the region was studied. A perspective of interstate dialogue between St. Petersburg and Paris, strengthening the position of Paris on condition of restoration the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the administrative-territorial reforms in the region under the protection of France were analyzed in the context of the European and Russian realities of mentioned period. It is specified that the Franco-Russian interstate dialogue of late eighteenth - early nineteenth century was complicated by ideological differences and overlap of geopolitical challenges of Russia and France in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The strategic value of these areas for the state interests of both countries is substantiated by their projects of administrative and territorial transformations of the region, as well as by active actions to strengthen the ideological influence and formation of public opinion. The research results show that in case of relations with polyethnic and multiconfessional states not only religious, economic and political factors should be considered, but also the role of their national and social characteristics.