"Recipes" for original socio-cultural construction in pre-Revolutionary Old Believer journals

The relevance of the research topic is related to the importance of scientific understanding of the influential socio-cultural discourse presented by Orthodox traditionalists in the context of the socio-political and cultural transformation of Russia in the early XX century.

The purpose of the study: to analyze the public rhetoric of the thick Old Believer journals published in Russia in 1906-1916.

Objectives: to characterize the reasons that determine the value of Old Believers' journals for the history of public thought; to identify the range of socially significant problems that were raised on the pages of Old Believers' periodicals in 1906-1916; to assess the level of practical significance of studying the "recipes" of socio-cultural construction of Russia proposed by Old Believers.

Methods. In the course of working with publications traditional methods of textual analysis were used, including elements of content analysis, which involves a qualitative and quantitative study of the content of certain publications in order to identify their central ideas. To process and interpret obtained data the author used methods of description and historical induction as well as historical-statistical and historical-genetic methods.

Results. The paper analyzes the peculiarities of the Old Believer authors' understanding of the negative consequences of mechanical copying of Western socio-cultural norms, examines the specifics of strategies for effective nationally oriented construction proposed by traditionalists in the conditions of the social crisis of the early 20th century. the expediency of using the ideas of "soil" socio-cultural construction in modern conditions is considered.

Conclusions. On the pages of the "thick" Old Believer journals there is a significant number of "recipes" aimed at strengthening national consciousness, education, countering radicalism in politics and vulgar consumerism in everyday life, maintaining family values, combating drunkenness and smoking. Their analysis will enrich the scientific understanding of the social and intellectual realities of the late Empire, some of the strategies of Russia presented by Old Believer publicists at the beginning of the 20th century can be adapted to modern realities.

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