Enlightened absolutism in Russia: official political strategies and their cultural concepts

The article analyzes some stereotypes about "enlightened absolutism" as notion, epoch and scientific problem. According to the author's opinion, enlightened absolutism as general strategy of government was used in Russia till the middle of XIX century and partially it was reproduced in "great reforms" of Alexander II predetermining their halved character and rigorism. The author analyzes the reasons of so long reproducibility of elements of enlightened absolutism in Russia, describes it as a cultural model, or discourse, in the frames of which not only political elite but the community as well (so called "liberation movement") functioned for such a long time.