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OFFICIAL
WEBSITE OF YURIY AFANASIEV
Summary
Yuriy Nikolaevich Afanasiev is a prominent Russian historian,
influential public figure and one of the founders of
the Russian State University for humanities.
His
birthplace was the village of Mayna in the Ulianovskiy
region, where he was born in a family of workers in
1934. Yuriy graduated from the historical department
of the Moscow State University in 1957. Having become
a specialist of French historiography, he has done a
lot in order to introduce into practice many of the
discoveries and achievements of the Annal’s school.
During
perestroyka he addressed M.S. Gorbachev with an unexpected
propoposal: to organize an original intellectual center,
which could unite the efforts of non-typical scholars,
who would develop perspective ideas. Some kind of answer
to his appeal may be considered his appointment as a
rector of the Moscow State Historical-Archive Institution.
It was a period of unusual public interest in national
history. The new head of MSHI tried to satisfy this
interest by holding regular public readings entitled
«The social memory of mankind» which were devoted to
discussions of various historical problems.
In
1989-1991 he finally breaks with Marks' doctrine and
becomes a more and more active supporter of liberal
ideas, having come to conclusion that socialism is a
sheer utopia. He enters public policy. At the First
congress of people’s deputies he criticizes the deputies
for being part of the «agressively obedient majority».
The priority of human values over other doctrines turned
out to be the frame-work of Afanasiev’s political credo.
In
1991-1992 Afanasiev concentrates his activity in several
directions. He is a constant supporter of the radical
renovation of Russian society and its integration to
the world civilization. Afanasiev does a lot in order
to open and set public control over KGB and Communist
party archives. In 1993 he finishes his political career.
He explains the events of that autumn as a clan struggle
but not as a competetion between the two branches of
power.
From
1991 the main thing which has consumed
all attention of Yuriy Afanasiev is Russian State University
for Humanities, which with his assistance was founded
on the basis of the Moscow State Historical-Archive
Institution. He has formulated its main purposes as
the training of humanists of XXI century to have a broad,
diverse outlook on the world.
From 1991 to 2006 the main thing which has consumed all attention of Yuriy Afanasiev is Russian State University for Humanities, which with his assistance was founded on the basis of the Moscow State Historical-Archive Institution. He has formulated its main purposes as the training of humanists of XXI century to have a broad, diverse outlook on the world.
The
many-sided abilities of Yu. Afanasiev are a kind of
guarantee that many things will be done and said by
him. In what sphere? The future will show us...
Curriculum Vitae
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