Scandinavistics by the Prominent Russian Historian Professor Vozgrin

Abstract

The article describes the life path, as well as analyzes the scientific achievements of a prominent Russian scientist, historian, member of the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences, professor of the Institute of History of St. Petersburg State University Valery Evgenyevich Vozgrin (1939-2020). The works of V. E. Vozgrin are well known in all Scandinavian countries, Germany, Italy, Spain, Estonia and other countries. The authors of the article highlight three main areas in his study of the history of the Scandinavian countries. First, the history of diplomacy and international relations of the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly, the diplomacy during the Great Northern War. Second, the colonial policy of the countries such as Denmark and Sweden. It has never been studied before by domestic historians. Third, historiographic direction in the study of Scandinavian countries. It has never been developed on such a large scale in Russia before. Moreover, the analysis of a number of large historiographical works of the researcher clearly indicates the special author's style in considering some little-known and very complex historiographic problems. The article concludes that the research base established by professor Vozgrin to study the history of the Scandinavian countries has formed a solid basis for further research into the history of the Nordic countries as well as for further development of Scandinavistics as a scientific school of thoughts in St. Petersburg in the development which V. Vozgrin has made his tangible contribution of such a scientific school of thoughts.

Keywords:

V. E. Vozgrin, history of Denmark, history of Sweden, Northern War, Scandinavistics, historiography of Scandinavian countries, colonial empires, diplomacy and international relations, historiography, 18th century