“Russia is a parliamentary country starting a new peculiar era”: participation of the clergy in the elections of deputies of the State Duma (based on the materials of the Irkutsk governor-generalship)

Aim. To analyze the social and political activity of the clergy during the period of Duma parliamentarism on the materials of the territories of the Irkutsk Governor-General (1906–1912). Methodology. The researcher identified, studied and analyzed documents from regional and federal archives characterizing the electoral process in the region. The research also involved periodical materials covering the course of the electoral process and its features. First of all, these are the Yenisei, Irkutsk and Trans-Baikal “diocesan gazettes”, as well as materials from private periodicals. The research is based on historical-comparative and historical-biographical methods. Results. The author identifies the main models of the “near-Duma” activity of the regional clergy in the specified period. The analysis of the typological features of the clergy’s communication with parishioners as potential participants in the electoral process is carried out. The differentiation of models of involvement of regional clergy in social-political processes is substantiated, which, on the one hand, manifested itself in their popularization of the idea of parliamentary dialogue with the authorities, and on the other, encouraged representatives of this social stratum to membership and active participation in the activities of left-wing political organizations. Research implications. The author introduces into scientific circulation archival sources which characterize the ideological and political views of the regional clergy, as well as the tactical and strategic features of building relationships with political opponents. The study summarizes and conceptualizes the problem of the participation of regional clergy in the electoral process.