The art of being an apologist for the foreign policy of the state: P.P. Shafirov’s treatise “Reasoning…” is the main initial milestone in the history of the Russian science of International Law

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Abstract

The article presents a scientific analysis and modern interpretation of the work of P. P. Shafirov “Reasoning, what legitimate reasons Peter I, tsar and ruler of All Russia, had for starting the war against Charles XII, King of Sweden, in 1700”, which is rightfully considered the best description and original source of information about the Russian-Swedish Northern War of 1700–1721, its causes and atrocities related to Sweden’s numerous violations of international legal obligations and the “right of peoples”. The clear structure of the work leaves no doubt about the evidentiary nature of the argumentation of the reasons for the outbreak of war. The role of Peter the Great in the drafting of the text is shown, the spheres of his managerial activity are indicated. The origins of the prototypes of certain branches and institutions of modern International Law, primarily International Humanitarian Law, are revealed. Referring to the events of more than 300 years ago allows us to better understand the origins of humanism as the moral code of Russians, defending state interests.

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About the authors

Vyacheslav A. Batyr

Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Kutafin Moscow State Law University

Author for correspondence.
Email: batyr_62@mail.ru

PhD in Law, Professor, Leading Researcher, Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Professor of the Department of International Law, Kutafin Moscow State Law 

Russian Federation, 10 Znamenka str., 119019 Moscow; 9 Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya str., 123995 Moscow

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