Modern Trends in Studying of Murmansk History

Abstract

The article discusses new trends in the study of the history of Murmansk and the development of Euro- Arctic region. Material for historiographic analysis were the results of the scientific conference “Murman and the Russian Arctic: past, present, future”, held from 26 to 28 September 2016 in the Murmansk Arctic State University. During the conference there was discussed a wide range of issues of history, ethnology, archeology of the Kola North. But the main focus of the conference was the history and development of Murmansk and the Euro-Arctic region in the XX century. Raised questions allow to speak about formation of new directions in the study of the history of the city. These include projects for the development of “socialist” Murmansk, “places of memory” of the city — the lost and surviving, the demographics and social structure, social infrastructure development, the contribution of engineers in the development of the town, and several others. Self-direction in work of the conference was the consideration of the provisions of the unequal groups premilitary Murmansk, and also the fate of Norwegians and Finns, who lived in the Murmansk region and subjected to repressions in the 1930s. Become relevant on the issues of development of transport communications in the Euro-Arctic region and the role of Murmansk in their organization. So, attention was drawn to the role of the Murmansk (Kirov) railroad in the development of a transport hub in the period before the great Patriotic war, the projects of the organization of the Northern sea route in the post-revolutionary period, the role of Russian-Norwegian trade in the economic development of Murman.