Conceptualization of freedom in Russian philosophy of law from the beginning
of XIX century is governed by opposition of two traditions of legal-philosophic thought – liberal
and conservative ones. Concept of freedom in post-Soviet theory of law is still hardly accessible for theoretical studies away from worldview preferences. Like over one hundred years ago,
turning to the concept of freedom polarizes academic community by involving its members
into discussion of more general questions of philosophy of history (a place of Russia in the
world, its relations with the West, etc.), i.e. the questions which do not have theoretical solution
but relate to the sphere of politics. The post-Soviet legal-philosophic discourse on freedom reproduces dichotomic models which were used within framework of old polemics between
Westernism and Slavophilism: there is freedom there, slavery here; law there, despotism here;
enforcement there, violence here; etc. Like in the Soviet period, theory of law preserves ideologic, missionary function, using appropriate mythological models it legitimizes one legal order
and discredits the other, at the same time demonstrating archetype basis of Russian legal-philosophic discourse on freedom.