Formation of conceptual grounds of the theory of economic development in the context of protection free trade controversy of XIX - beginning of XX century

The goal of the article is detection of historical specific features of evolution of scientific views and theoretical conceptualisation of problems of protectionism as a factor of economic development in the domestic scientific literature of XIX - beginning of XX century. The article conducts analysis of problems of the protection free trade controversy at various stages of practical implementation of the policy of paternalism by the Russian government. The article justifies the category of rational protectionism as a possible consensus solution of the said discussion. It reveals that scientific controversy between the supporters of protectionism and followers of free trade had an important scientific and practical significance since it facilitated justification of conceptual grounds of formation of the domestic model of economic development. The prospect of further studies of the said problems lies in the study of the concepts of the policy of state paternalism at various stages of historical development of the Ukrainian territory, which could be considered as the theoretical and methodological basis of development of the domestic strategy of economic development under modern conditions.