HISTORY AND SOURCE STUDIES: ARE DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS HISTORICAL SOURCES?
HISTORY AND SOURCE STUDIES: ARE DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS HISTORICAL SOURCES?

Summary/Abstract: Historical science assumes that the basic research activity of a historian is work with historical sources. The role and meaning of historical sources in historical researches is gradually replaced the knowledge of the previous historiography. It is particularly important to study new historical sources that is implied not only intergovernmental history but also history of international relationships. This aspect of Source Studies increases the meaning of diplomatic documents as a specific type of written sources of contemporary history. The article considers the phase of historical sources study as diplomatic documents of the new era where the meaning of modern diplomatic documents is increased and grown. The relevance of this theme is explained with development of international relations and foreign affairs in epoch of globalization and integration as well as of interrelations and interdependency of states and international organizations that are consisted the contemporary context of international relations. Documental progress in historical source study occurs due to multiplication of quantity and development of quality of diplomatic documents. It demands new approaches to use these documents to study history as well as new perspectives of diplomatic historical sources classification. In our opinion, it lets to increase the creative potential of historians of international relations and diplomacy for further scrutiny of contemporary history as the stage of the recent history.

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