Izvestiya of Saratov University.

Economics. Management. Law

ISSN 1994-2540 (Print)
ISSN 2542-1956 (Online)

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Tatarnikov D. G. The Russian academic tradition in the works by S. V. Yushkov: Heritage and innovation in the Russian historic and legal science. Journal Izvestiya of Saratov University. Economics. Management. Law, 2025, vol. 25, iss. 4, pp. 437-450. DOI: 10.18500/1994-2540-2025-25-4-437-450, EDN: VWLLNI

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Russian
Heading: 
Law
Article type: 
Article
UDC: 
340
DOI: 
10.18500/1994-2540-2025-25-4-437-450
EDN: 
VWLLNI

The Russian academic tradition in the works by S. V. Yushkov: Heritage and innovation in the Russian historic and legal science

Autors: 
Tatarnikov Dmitry Gennadievich, Saratov State University
Abstract: 

Introduction. S. V. Yushkov laid the foundations of Soviet historical and legal science. Russian law history, however, initially had a number of features that have become an integral part of the Russian academic tradition: firstly, archaeological investigation and research; secondly, a thorough historical and philological analysis of monuments. Theoretical analysis. These features were established by G. F. Miller and V. N. Tatishchev's activities and confirmed by the research of the members of N. P. Rumyantsev's circle. By the middle of the 19th century, the principle of studying monuments had been developed and embodied all available lists, which was demonstrated  by N. V. Kalachev. The anthology by M. F. Vladimirsky-Budanov defines the list of historical and legal texts required for study at law faculties, and his textbook testifies to the maturity of Russian science. S. V. Yushkov’s teacher, V. N. Beneshevich, while researching the monuments of Byzantine and Slavic law, provided an example of research work in the field of codicology, paleography, philology and comparative jurisprudence. Empirical analysis. As a researcher, S. V. Yushkov was formed in a pre-revolutionary scientific environment. After the October Revolution, he focused on studying the legal monuments of Kievan Rus and the medieval Muscovite state. S. V. Yushkov’s scientific style is a combination of academic scientific traditions and a formative approach. He created the first Soviet textbook on the history of state and law, was the first in the USSR to publish Rus' Truth according to all available lists, and introduced the legal collection “Justice Metropolitan” into scientific circulation. Results. S. V. Yushkov managed to find a reasonable balance between the academic traditions of pre-revolutionary science and the formational understanding of history, the balance in which archaeological investigations and research were not opposed, but were combined and organically fi t into the framework of the Marxist method. He constructed a single intellectual space for the entire Russian historical and legal science. S. V. Yushkov significantly enriched Russian science both in terms of content and theory, created his own school, having trained many prominent researchers.

Key words: 
Russian and Soviet historical and legal science
N. P. Rumyantsev's circle
N. V. Kalachev
M. F. Vladimirsky-Budanov
V. N. Beneshevich
S. V. Yushkov
legal monuments
Byzantine monuments of church law
monuments of Slavic and Russian law
Rus' Truth
lists and editions of the Rus' Truth
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Received: 
21.08.2025
Accepted: 
15.09.2025
Available online: 
25.12.2025
Published: 
25.12.2025