Correct periodization of history is of great methodological, cognitive and methodological importance. Therefore, the interest in this problem is understandable. As is well known, the Marxist-Leninist historical periodization of history is based on the theory of socio-economic formations.

In the context of recent history, the issues of periodization acquire particularly great scientific and political significance. In Soviet historical science and history teaching, there is no disagreement about the original event of modern history. But until recently, there were different views on its internal periodization. And this question is important for understanding the content of this period of human development. In the first half of the 1960s, orientalists at Moscow State University, while preparing a textbook on the modern history of Asian and African countries1, came to the conclusion that the periodization of modern history should be based on the processes occurring during the development of world socialism. Accordingly, the introduction to the textbook stated: "The formation of the world socialist system, the emergence of the dictatorship of the proletariat beyond the national framework, beyond the borders of one country, its transformation into an international type of power established in a number of countries in Europe and Asia, meant the transition to a new stage in the development of world socialism, in the modern history of mankind, stories of Asian and African countries " 2 .

In the new textbook on the modern history of Asian and African countries, Part 1 is devoted to the first period of modern history - from the Great October Socialist Revolution to the victory over Hitler's Germany and militaristic Japan (1917-1945), and Part 2 covers the subsequent period. In the programs of the course" History of Asian and African Countries", approved by the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the USSR and published in 1969, 1975 and 1982, the section of modern history invariably consists of two parts-before and after 1945. The same applies to the methodological guidelines for part-time students on the modern history of Asian and African countries, published in 1972 and 1978. For more than 20 years, the modern history of Asian and African countries has been periodized in this way in general course lectures delivered at the Moscow State University - at the Faculty of History and at the Institute of Asian and African Countries4 .

Experts on the recent history of European and American countries followed a different periodization. This was reflected, in particular, in the textbook on the modern history of Asian and African countries published in 1974-1975 by a team of historians of universities and institutes of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the first volume of which covers the years 1918 - 1939, and the second-1939-1973. revised and expanded, study guide-

1 Employees of the institutes of the USSR Academy of Sciences also participated in its writing.

2 Recent history of Asian and African countries. Textbook for higher educational institutions, Moscow, 1965, p. 10.

3 Istoriya stran Asii i Afrika v sovremennoe vremya [History of Asian and African countries in modern times]. ch. 1. M. 1976; ch. 2. M. 1979.

4 The author of these lines has already justified the periodization of the modern history of the countries of Asia and Africa according to the stages of development of world socialism (see M. F. Yuryev On the periodization of the modern history of the countries of Asia and Africa. - Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta, vostokovedenie, 1977, N 3).

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a textbook for the 10th grade of secondary school " Modern History (1939-1982)", and in 1984 - the 15th edition of the textbook for the 9th grade"Modern History (1917-1939)". The same position is shared by the authors of the Soviet Historical Encyclopedia .5
This approach seems to contradict the formational principle of periodization of history. The question arises how to apply this principle in our time. Apparently, the proponents of the periodization of modern history "according to capitalism" proceed from the fact that in most countries of the world the dominance of capitalist relations remains or the capitalist system is developing (in the countries of Asia and Africa), its transformation into the prevailing one. However, this fact cannot play a decisive role, although, of course, it must be taken into account. After all, the establishment of capitalism in Europe and North America took more than two centuries (1640-1870). And in the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, pre-capitalist relations remained dominant for almost 100 years. Nevertheless, Soviet historiography connects the swing of the new time in world history - the period of capitalism-with the English bourgeois revolution of the mid-17th century.

The history of the establishment of socialist society begins with the Great October Socialist Revolution. A qualitative milestone in its development was the emergence of socialism beyond the borders of one country. If in 1917-1945 socialism developed and won in one country, then for the second period of modern history, the determining factor is the formation and strengthening of the world socialist system, which is inextricably linked with the world-historical victory over Hitler's Germany and militaristic Japan in 1945.

The formation of the world socialist system was not a one-time act. It began in 1944-1945. the liberation of a number of European and Asian countries from German fascism and Japanese imperialism and social revolutions in them. In 1949, the German Democratic Republic and the People's Republic of China were formed. It took the peoples of Vietnam and Laos 30 years to complete their national liberation and transition to building socialism. Cuba joined the world system of socialism at the turn of the 50s and 60s. Important milestones in the development of the world socialist system were the socialist transformations, the conclusion of treaties of friendship, alliance and mutual assistance between socialist countries, the creation of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (1949), and the Warsaw Pact Organization (1955).

Thus, the formation of the world system of socialism took place over a number of years, but it became possible only thanks to the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, we have the right to name the year 1945, the year of the world - historic victory over German fascism and Japanese militarism, as the year that separates the entire modern history of mankind, in which the main credit belongs to the Soviet people and its Armed Forces, led by the Communist Party.

Currently, specialists in the modern and contemporary history of Western Europe and America are also inclined to this approach. They write: "The huge changes in the world, the rapidly changing socio-economic and political environment, and the ever-growing volume of information prompt a number of adjustments to the current chronological framework of lectures and textbooks on modern history. Its first period should be extended in all respects to 1945, considering the results of the Second World War as the result of pre-war development and at the same time as the beginning of a qualitatively different stage of development in modern history, characterized by the formation of the world socialist system, a new stage of the general crisis of capitalism, and the collapse of colonial empires in Asia and Africa."6 Of the global processes mentioned here (the formation of the world socialist system, a new stage of the general crisis of capitalism, the collapse of colonial empires) that characterize the second stage of modern history, the formation of the world system of socialism, of course, was of decisive importance, because this is a formational feature.

5 CIE. T. 10. Moscow, 1967, stb. 274.

6 Ado A.V., Sirotkin V. G., Yazkov E. F. Higher school: textbooks, lectures, scientific work. - New and recent history, 1984, N 2.

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The resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU "On the 40th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" states:: "The past decades have shown even more vividly and fully the world-historical significance of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. The defeat of German fascism, and then of Japanese militarism, had a profound impact on the entire course of world development. Favorable conditions have been created for the struggle of the working masses for their social and national liberation. The positions of progressive, democratic, and peace-loving forces have been strengthened, and the influence of communist and workers ' parties has increased. The world socialist system has emerged and is developing successfully. The process of disintegration of the colonial system of imperialism has accelerated, culminating in its collapse. " 7
If we talk about the countries of Asia and Africa, then in the first period it seems reasonable to introduce the following three stages::

1. 1917-1923 years. The first assault on the capitalist system, the wave of revolutionary movements, national liberation wars and uprisings that swept through many countries of Asia and North Africa under the direct influence of October: uprisings in Egypt and Iraq, the anti-imperialist revolution in Turkey, the struggle against the British dictate and the Shah's arbitrariness in Iran, the war of independence in Afghanistan, the revolutionary upsurge in India and Indonesia, the struggle of the national revolutionary forces led by Sun Yat-sen and the "May 4 movement" of 1919 in China, the March uprising of 1919 in Korea, the rice riots of 1918 in Japan, and the people's revolution of 1921 in Mongolia.

2. 1923-1939 years. Temporary, partial, and relative stabilization of capitalism in its main centers; the global economic crisis; the growing threat of a new world war in the post-crisis years. The national liberation movement was one of the factors that undermined the foundations of the rule of imperialism; various forms of liberation struggle. Development of the Mongolian People's Republic along a non-capitalist path. Major revolutionary uprisings and anti-imperialist uprisings in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma, Syria, Morocco, combined with various forms of unarmed struggle. Mass anti-imperialist movement in India and Egypt. Reforms in Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan aimed at strengthening the power of the bourgeoisie and landlords and eliminating the most egregious feudal remnants. The emergence in a number of countries of Tropical Africa of organizations that unite opponents of the colonial yoke. The process of militarization and fascization of imperialist Japan.

3. The Second World War of 1939-1945. Highlighting this stage indicates the connection between the periodization of recent history and the general crisis of capitalism. Involvement of Asian and African countries in the world War as the first objects of imperialist aggression (Ethiopia, China), as suppliers of soldiers, raw materials, and in some cases industrial products for warfare, as territories where military operations were conducted (China, the countries of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa). Japan is the aggressor, the initiator of the war in East and Southeast Asia, in the Pacific Ocean. The orientation of the anti-imperialist movement both against the fascist aggressors and against the preservation of the old colonial rule. The growth of democratic forces, the influence and authority of communist parties, reflecting the just, liberating nature of the war on the part of the anti-fascist coalition. The victories of the Soviet Army, which culminated in the defeat of the Hitlerite military machine and the main power of Japanese imperialism on the mainland - the Kwantung Army-had a special influence on all the processes that took place at that time, and the liberation of many peoples of Europe and Asia from the yoke of fascism and militarism.

Changes in the balance of power in the international arena in favor of socialism as a result of the victory of the Soviet Union and other anti-fascist forces in World War II, the weakening of the old colonial powers (England, France, Holland). Creating favorable conditions for the assault on the colonial system of imperialism. The beginning of the second period of the modern history of mankind.

In the second period of the recent history of Asian and African countries, there are also three stages::

1. 1945-1960 years. The rise of the national liberation movement under the influence of the Victory of the Soviet Union and antifa-

7 Pravda, 17. VI. 1984.

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the Nazi coalition over Hitlerite Germany and imperialist Japan. Victory of the People's democratic revolutions in China, North Korea, and North Vietnam. The transition of the peoples of these countries to the construction of the foundations of socialism. Independence of India, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon, Indonesia, Malaya, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Transjordan, Egypt, Iraq. The collapse of the British, French, and Dutch colonial empires in Asia. The growth of the national liberation movement in Equatorial and Southern Africa. The Democratic Movement in Japan.

2. 1960-mid-70s. The conquest of independence by the vast majority of African countries. The victory of the anti-colonialist struggle of the peoples of Angola and Mozambique and the completion of the basically liquidation of the colonial system. Successes and difficulties in the development of the socialist countries of Asia. Victory of the revolutionary forces in South Vietnam, Laos, and Kampuchea. The beginning of the development of the struggle for national liberation into a struggle against exploitative relations. The emergence of socialist-oriented states. Nationalization of the property of foreign companies. Strengthening the struggle of Asian and African states with the support of the USSR and other COMECON countries for the establishment of equal international economic relations. Neocolonialist policy of undermining the independence of independent states.

3. The current stage of development of Afro-Asian countries. Aggravation of social problems, class antagonisms, and political struggles in the independent states of Asia and Africa. The current ideological situation in them. The People's Democratic Revolution of 1978 in Afghanistan. The anti-imperialist and anti-Shah revolutions of 1978-1979 in Iran and the counteroffensive of conservative forces. Attempts of imperialism, hegemony, regional and domestic reaction to overthrow the people's democratic power in Afghanistan and Kampuchea, to violate the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of India and a number of Arab and African countries. Israel and South Africa as bases of imperialist policy in the Middle East and Africa. A united front of the United States, Japan, and the "Common Market" countries against the independent development of former colonies and semi-colonies and a competitive struggle for predominant participation in their exploitation. Growing influence of Asian and African states in international relations. The importance of cooperation between them and the countries of the socialist community in the struggle against imperialist claims to world domination, the threat of a new world war, encroachments on independence and freedom to choose the path of development.

Thus, two events of world-historical significance determined the directions of world development in modern times: the Great October Socialist Revolution and the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, which is inextricably linked with it. As Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, said at a meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU with veterans of the Great Patriotic War on May 5, 1985, " everything that we have has two points of reference. The first began with the October Revolution, the second after Victory Day. " 8 This fact should be reflected in the periodization of recent history.

8 Pravda, 6. V. 1985.

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