Role of G. V. Plekhanov in defence and development of materialistic comprehension of history

Some questions of formation and essence of the ideas of materialist comprehension of history and social relations in the works of G.V. Plekhanov have been considered. The attention has been paid to the analysis of previous and current ideas about role of nation and person, to the critic of populist views on this problem. The contribution of Plekhanov in development of the Marxist doctrine about role of people and person has been pointed out; topicality of some ideas of Plekhanov for understanding of modern situation in Russia has been analyzed.