The article is devoted to the evolution of history as one of the social sciences in the second half of the XX – early XXI centuries. The author analyses the main representations of the integration of social sciences and history, its role in the formation of the contemporary social knowledge. The article considers the phenomenon of social science history as a sphere of scientifically oriented social-historical studies based on the integration and collaboration of social sciences and humanities. Contradictions and perspectives of this interdisciplinary collaboration are discussed in the context of the influence analysis of scientific paradigms and intellectual turns of the epoch.

The article analyses the system of bailiffs’ material provision in the 1860–1890s. It focuses on the core elements forming bailiffs’ salary and the reasons for remuneration of bailiffs for executing their duties. The article characterizes the financial responsibility of bailiffs in the form of deductions and levy of pledge when assuming the post. The author concludes that the system of bailiffs’ salaries at that period had not yet been developed as an effective set of measures and guarantees to protect a bailiff on the part of the State.

The article analyses the causes of the rural population growth in 1955–1959. The author shows a family size and structure in urban and rural areas. The author emphasizes the causes of the formation of the described rural family structure. There is considered the legislative activity of the state in the population sphere. There is given the analysis of the dynamics of the rural population growth of the Gorki region as a whole and its working-age part in particular.

The article analyses the appearance and manners of the Russian merchant class in the pre-reform period from the viewpoint of the public image. The author considers the ways colors, style and behavior of merchants influenced the perception by the society, what impression they tried to produce by means of non-verbal communication.

The article considers the Russian-British confrontation in China in late XIX century. The Russian and foreign (British in particular) historiographies have different views of the causes and manifestations of the Russian-British political and economic contradictions in China. The researches’ disputes are explained by their different interpretations of the same events, which depend on their personal political positions. Besides, the views of scientists from previous epochs sometimes influence modern researches.

The article considers the problem of reforming and developing Ukraine’s Armed Forces on the basis of the analysis of the key provisions of the Strategic defense bulletin adopted in 2012. The author proposes the ways of solving this problem and substantiates the transition in the defense planning from the military doctrine to the doctrine of Ukraine’s security and defense.