The article considers such little-studied issues as the emergence and formation of political geography as a scientific and educational direction in Russia. The features of the genesis and development of political geography in Russia are shown in the framework of two scientific and educational paradigms - the state-describing (the end of the 1730s - the end of the 19th century) and the anthropogeographic (the end of the 19th century - the first third of the 20th century). The main ideas and scientists in each stage are outlined. A comparative analysis of the genesis of the term “political geography” in Russia and European countries is carried out.