history of politicalparties.

Modern historiography of higher education convincingly demonstrates that national organisations(primarily regional associations) were among the most representative in the student environment at the turnof the 19th and 20th centuries. The author of the article attempts to trace the transition from politicizationof such associations to political struggle. Using materials from St. Petersburg University, it was possible todemonstrate that some political, neutral (cultural or economic) organizations of a national nature fell intothe orbit of larger radical parties, which often fought for influence over a specific circle. Other associationsgradually gained popularity and became independent parties / movements that claimed pan-imperial andregional coverage (the Belarusian Socialist Community, the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party, the Latvian “New Current”, etc.). At the same time, the movements that formed, despite their democratic slogans, were of anintellectual nature and arose far from the people whose interests they planned to defend. Agitation work wastransferred from large cities to the periphery later. The creation and politicization of national organizationswas facilitated by the democratic student environment, which the Tsarist government was powerless tocontrol. Upon entering the university, a young person became involved in public life and, indirectly, in formsof political struggle, which was encouraged by the illegal status of even non-political communities.