On the issue of defining the essence of the object of the intangible cultural heritage: historical retrospective and significance for the development of modern society

The authors attempt to consider the reflection of the issues of preserving the intangible cultural heritage in the normative legal acts of the Russian Federation in different historical periods. The paper traces the state position in relation to the manifestations of the intangible cultural heritage as to the unique products of the nation with its language and history. The Purpose (the object) of the paper is the following: on the basis of analysis of historical normative material, to consider the current state and forecast possible options for the formation of Russia’s socio-cultural policy with an emphasis on the importance of the intangible cultural heritage