Origins of russian political science:the political sciences in the glory of John (Johann) Gotfrid Reichel, addressed to Catherine II The Great
The article deals with the rst o cial librarian of Moscow University John (Johann) Gottfried Reichel and his commendatory word addressed to Catherine II the Great. The author makes an assumption that since the moment when the text of I.G. Reichel “On the best ways to multiply subjects” (1766) was published, the history of Russian political science has begun - political science in Russia. Reichel published his work in Russian, used the concept of political science,” referred to authors who were at the origins of such scienti c areas as “political arithmetic”, “political economy”,”statistics”, “demography”. Reichel had a great in uence on the education of a whole generation of enlightened people in Russia, including the Fonvizin brothers. Denis Fonvizin in one of the works of art in 1788 advocated the creation of departments of political science in Russian universities. Also, with the assistance of the Russian Orthodox Church representatives, Reichel published the rst textbook on statistics in Russia, and in fact the rst on political comparative studies. The article about Reichel precedes the publication of the commendable word “Onthe best ways to multiply subjects”, addressed to Catherine II the Great, in the journal “Russian Political Science” with comments, explanations and taking into account modern grammar rules. Reichel's work is being republished for the rst time in the 255-year history of this text.