Officials of Special Assignments as an Instrument of Administrative Policy in the West Siberian and Steppe Governorships in the Second Half of the Xix Century

В статье на основе формулярных списков и личных дел чиновников особых поручений при генерал-губернаторах и губернаторах Западно-Сибирского и Степного генерал-губернаторств охарактеризованы направления деятельности этих чиновников, их влияние на административную политику на окраинных территориях. С применением системного подхода рассматриваются положение чиновников особых поручений в составе управленческой элиты региона, их полномочия и их карьерные траектории. Впервые вводятся в научный оборот многие архивные документы, анализируются персональные биографии чиновников. Влияние чиновников особых поручений на управленческие решения властей освещается с позиций концепций о «реальной административной элите», «колонизационных экспертах», «целевой администрации» и «инструментальной» функции экспертного знания. The article is an analysis of the position and influence of officials of special assignments under the governors-general and governors of the West Siberian and Steppe Governor-Generalships in the administrative elite of the region.The research is based on the form lists and personal files of officials stored in the Historical Archive of the Omsk region, the Russian State Historical Archive and the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan, data from which are published for the first time. The degree of influence of officials of special assignments on management decisions is analyzed using the concepts of “real administrative elite”, “colonization experts”, “target administration” and the “instrumental” function of expert knowledge. Special attention is paid to characterizing the expert role of officials of special assignments, the presence of “uniformed scientists” among them and the influence of the composition and nature of assignments from the Governor-General or the governor on the development of competence in the management of the marginal territory. The article highlights three main areas of activity of officials of special assignments: “expert”, “steppe” and “civil”. In each area, options for executed orders are presented, as well as competence in these issues and the result achieved by them are analyzed. Based on the analysis of career trajectories and biographies, it is concluded that, in comparison with other officials, the “human dimension” is of increased importance - the level of knowledge, competencies, education, personal qualities and relations with the Governor-General or the governor for officials of special assignments. The functions of the special assignments officials were extensive and combined different spheres in their service. The officials of special assignments were trusted representatives of the top officials of the region and made up the “management team”. Given the remoteness of the region and vastness of the territory, the activities of special assignments officials played a key role in managing the region and making managerial decisions.