Historiographic Perspectives of Siberian Entrepreneurship (Second Half of the 19th – Early 20th Century): Theoretical and Methodological Approaches in the Works of Pre-Revolutionary and Soviet Researchers

The aim of the study is to determine the specifics, key concepts, and methods for studying Siberian entrepreneurship (second half of the 19th – early 20th century) that developed in pre-revolutionary and Soviet histori-ography. Based on the theory of intellectual history, value approach, principles of holism, integrity and historicism, the works of scientists are analyzed in the context of their era. The relevance and significance of historical knowledge are assessed using problem-chronological, comparative methods, systematization and hermeneutics. Historiographic analysis allowed us to show the process of emergence of historiography on the history of entrepreneurship in the Siberian region, to establish the circle of scientists studying the problem and their most significant publications, and to reveal research traditions. Conclusions are made that pre-revolutionary historiography was dominated by “descriptive-ness” – researchers focused on trade, resources and statistics; in the Soviet period, a formational approach was used, interpreting entrepreneurs as an “exploiting class”. Fundamentally different paradigms have formed in historiography: the pre-revolutionary one – with an emphasis on researchers-practitioners, the Soviet one – with a class approach. The conducted research created the basis for studying the following post-Soviet period.