This article discusses the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study of the Russian pre - revolutionary historiography of the XVIII-early XX century. socio-economic and political history of Kazakhstan. The article analyzes the Russian concept of "self-preservation", the theory of "natural borders", and the "civilizing mission of Russia in the East", which justify the expansionist policy of tsarism towards Kazakhstan. Based on the analysis of the works of representatives of the Russian pre-revolutionary historiography, which studied the socio-economic and political history of Kazakhstan, it is concluded that the study of this problem was characterized by Eurocentrism, ethnocentrism, and racial campaign.