S. I. Asknaziy’s views on the figure of a legal entity

Tyumen State University Herald. Social, Economic, and Law Research


Release:

2026. Vol. 12.. № 1 (45)

Title: 
S. I. Asknaziy’s views on the figure of a legal entity

Author:

For citation: Borisov, А. M. (2026). S. I. Asknaziy’s views on the figure of a legal entity. Tyumen State University Herald. Social, Economic, and Law Research, 12(1), 106–123. https://doi.org/10.21684/2411-7897-2026-12-1-106-123

About the author:

, Cand. Sci. (Hist.), Associate Professor, Chairman of the Kursk Regional Branch of the Association of Legal Historians, Kursk, Russia; andrei_borisov@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7475-1099

Abstract:

Discussions about the essence of a legal entity in domestic legal science began in the second half of the 19th century, continued in the 20th century, and continue to this day. The purpose of the study is related to the task of revealing the scientific views of S. I. Asknaziy on a legal entity, as one of the layers of understanding this social, economic and legal phenomenon. Elements of novelty include comments on some of the scientist’s controversial statements and the disclosure of fragments of his realistic approach to substantiating the essence of this legal institution with the designation of a different concept of pseudo-persons. The work uses methods of description, comparison, analysis, formal logic and the historical-critical method. The conclusions are that the scientist has substantiated the preferential use of the legal entity form in antagonistic formation in the interests of private owners, including for the purpose of disguising class relations, while in a socialist economy it ensures the general interest of the national collective in the organization of social production and social consumption; some of the conclusions of the civil lawyer are contradictory; it is entirely acceptable to revise the meaning of the term “organizational and legal form” for the theory of legal entities and for legislation.

References:

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