ABSTRACT
The first essential trait of new Soviet historical doctrine was thus a matter of form, namely the extension in time and space of what is to be understood as Soviet history. The new definition of "Soviet History" enormously extends not only its limits in time but its geographical limits, for it automatically brings into Soviet history not only everything that has ever been brought to light at any time in the regions of the present USSR, but also the interconnexion of these events with other parts of the world. The present conception of the nation, or, at all events, of the Soviet nation, is distinguished fundamentally, from that of Marx and Michael N. Pokrovsky and their contemporaries of like mind. The claim of Russian leadership advanced by means of periodisation could be substantially reinforced if it could be shown not only that the Russians themselves advanced quickly from stage to stage and even entirely passed over some stages.
