Lashuk N. The Russian Freemasonry in the socio-political discourse of the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries

Thesis for Candidate Degree in History in specialty 07.00.02 – World History. T.H. Shevchenko National University “Chernihiv Collegium”. Chernihiv, 2020. The thesis studies Russian Freemasonry in the socio-political discourse of the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries. Outlining of the Freemasonry problem through the prism of the intellectual discourse of the Russian Empire allows more detailed analysis of historical processes and phenomena inherent in the presented period. The scientific research analyzes the main conceptual vectors of the Freemasonry in the socio-political discourse of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries. The Russian Freemasonry is a slightly branched network manifestation in the contrast to the hierarchy of the empire. In fact, The Russian Freemasonry was presented as a social network opposed to the hierarchy of the Russian Empire. So, Freemasonry had an influence on the philosophy and literature of the Russian intellectual society of XVIII – early XIX century, and it also concerned the culture, education, religion and politics of the Russian Empire. An analysis of the Freemasonry discourse of the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries gives a better understanding of this historical period in the development of the community. The study of society’s reflection of the historical past opens new ways for the study of the Freemasonry phenomenon in history. The issue of the Freemasonry discourse of the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries, is, in fact, one of the leading directions in modern historical scientific research. Practical significance of the obtained results is determined by the scientific novelty and can be presented in further scientific researches, education and applied purposes. The works published by the scientist is designed to expand a field of scientific research on World History and Masonic Studies. The scientific work can be used in of complex works on the history of the Russian Empire and the history of Russia in general, the preparation of special courses on the Modern History of Russia and the courses of lectures. Key words: Freemasonry, discourse, Age of Enlightenment, enlightenment, Russian Empire, Lodge, image, liberalism, historiography,