THE LONG TIME HISTORY OF THE "GREAT WAR"

The goal is to reveal the impact of the World War I on the history and present of international relations. The methodology is based on the principles of historicism, historical-comparative, and historical-systemic methods of researching the history of international relations. The scientifi c novelty is based on the systematization of conceptual approaches to the interpretation of the problems of the Great War's infl uence on the history of the world and the change of systems of international relations. Th e ruling elites rush to war when the baggage of hypocrisy, corruption, nepotism, incompetence, and snobbery exceeds the markers of political rationality. Conclusions. In terms of its programming potential, the Great War proved to be no less long-lasting than the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, which gave a powerful impetus to the development of the Modern era, causing a fundamental change in the previous political, socioeconomic, cultural and spiritual foundations of society and systems of international relations. An exit from the historical era of the Great War is possible after the formation of a postmodern system of international relations with a new balance of forces and interests between different states and local civilizations is completed.