Karl Marx about the theory of a formation approach to knowledge of history: some aspects multilataral problem

The article reveals (with elements of outline) the basics of the Marxist theory of the formational approach to the knowledge of history. Some aspects are touched upon the problem of criticism of this theory and its opposition to the theory of a civilizational approach to the understanding of history, which has a place in Russian historiography since the 1990s. It is stated that such criticism is gradually becoming more balanced, which makes it possible to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of the Marxist theory of the formational approach to the cognition of history. The author agrees with the opinion that today the Marxist theory of the formational approach to the knowledge of history has not exhausted its research potential, unless, of course, it is used dogmatically. The article covers only some of the problems under consideration, which is extremely multidimensional.