New book about the Arctic – 'Directions of the projects in the high latitudes' (Novosibirsk: Science, 2011. 440 p.)

Published a new book, prepared by a group of authors and dedicated to a very important and topical issues relating to the development and the development of the Russian Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, which from ancient times an important place in the development of the Russian state. The Arctic region and is now of great importance for Russia, not only because it is a significant part of its territory. Arctic is particularly valuable in that it has a great strategic and natural-resource potential, and we see how it is slowly becoming more and more important for the economic, tech- nical, technological and socio-cultural development of the state, since it is able to provide progressive development not only in the present but and in the future. The study of the historical past associated with the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, due both to the needs of the increment of scientific knowledge, and the need for understanding the historical experience and its use in contemporary social practice. Undeniable fact that in the history of Russia has always played a huge role space-geographic factors that cause substantial variability and development, and the specific nature of the relationship between the center and the regions.

The book for the first time in the historiography on the extensive source base researched and compiled the complex and poorly understood problem of the evolution of the regional policy in the northern territories over a long historical period. The main emphasis on the study of the problems of continuity in the strategy to protect the Russian interests in the northern areas and the preservation of the Russian state status as a great power of the Arctic. Authors were able to study the processes of learning and the development of the northern expanses of Russia, to show how the circumstances evolved human being there is to many factors formed a special type of attitude of Russian society to the north - large and resource-rich region of the country, at the same time while it is in severe natural and climatic conditions. At the same time pointed out that with the development of science and technology and civilization progress related to the development and habitation of the northern territories varied both government officials and ordinary Russians.

Especially significant changes occurred in the XX century, when large-scale economic development of the northern territories has become a matter of the national importance. On the basis of accumulated knowledge and understanding of earlier periods as early as 1920-1930-ies in the Arctic began to take shape quite costly government measures mobilization measures aimed at active industrial and transport construction, the development of the Northern Sea Route as an important transport artery of the USSR. In this case all the shares held in the forefront of national interest. The Arctic region to the central government in the Soviet period, was a determining factor in public policy.

The authors examine the past, current and the future design of the relationship "region -the center" at the highest possible analysis. There is a strong leading role of the state in the exploration and the development of high-latitude areas with the extreme climatic and geographical conditions. Shows that over the centuries has changed as the information base strategic aspirations of the state, and the scientific and technical capacity to support them.

The scientific, technological and civilization progress is extending the implementation of major pioneering projects in the northern regions of Russia, which is not always carried out as part of their social welfare. Development of the new territories in the high latitudes, for objective reasons requires mobilization decisions, sometimes accompanied by coercion and outright violence to a historically short time to achieve real results. The book noted that the Soviet government in carrying out its strategic plans in 1930-1950-s of the various methods of coercion. Significant place in the formation of human resources in the northern territories was given the use of prison labor and other convicts who had to have participated in the industrial and transport construction, development of mineral resources, forestry, etc.

The excursion into the history gives the reason the authors believe that the Arctic is as an organic part of the Russian Federation, such as Siberia and the Far East. Disputes about the ways and methods of its habitation and the development have more than a century. They do not cease at the moment. At the world level, discussed the fate of the Russian Arctic territories, the pro- spects for their economic, social and cultural development. Author team shows steady long-term integrated views of supporters of the Arctic in the Russian context.

The researchers came to the conclusion that there is an urgent need to develop a new model of the public policy with regard to Russia's regions, including the Arctic. They believe that the basis of the updated state policy in the Arctic could become the main strategic documents adopted in recent years, the President and the Government of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030. They suggest the accelerated socio-economic development of the northern territories, which must be used predominantly latest energy saving technology, the most advanced manufacturing solutions. This approach aims to strengthen not only the economic but also the geopolitical situation in the Arctic, to give new impetus to its promising development within the Russian state, which is very important in a globalized world ties and relationships in which there is the view that the "compression" of extensive Russian territories primarily through Siberia and the North. In response, the authors of the monograph considers social and economic potential of Siberia as the real and the only possible basis for enhanced economic activity in the Arctic.

The mmonographic work has been done in the genre of interdisciplinary research, which increases its value. Interdisciplinary studies make it possible to combine fundamental and applied significance of scientific developments. The methodology allows the various sciences as both explore the various aspects of such complex objects and phenomena that are generally identified the concept of "Russian Arctic zone" and identify general patterns of technological and institutional change in the region for a considerable chronological period. Authors were able to solve complex problems, organically reunite the results of historical, geographical, economic and mathematical research, to show how they can work and complement each other, in order to simulate the different processes of the social development.

In the general monograph reflects the important and urgent problems of the social and economic history of Russia connected with the study and the development of its Arctic spaces. Researchers have successfully challenging the scientific problems, and at the same time just published an interesting and informative book. Her living language edition gives original -orthogonality, turn to the scientific research into the subject of a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of the Fatherland. Text provided with numerous maps, which are designed to help the thoughtful reader to dive in the routes of the development of Siberia and the Arctic spaces. In addition, the book has an application in the form of the chronograph that reflects the presence of the main landmarks of the Russian state in the Arctic. Informational value of the study gives a comprehensive list of references of works on Arctic issues.

Thus, it can be considered as a real success the publication of such a comprehensive general work, which clearly represented the past, present and future of Russia and its northern latitudes.