Considered and analyzed in the article are the political cycles of reforms – counter-reforms in Russia from the early 19th century up to our time. What is demonstrated in the meantime is correlation of the Russian cycles of reforms – counter-reforms with the Kondratyev cycles and with the cycles of the world system’s evolution. On this basis, a hypothesis is formulated as to the causes of the deep crises of Russian statehood in the beginning and in the end of the 20th century, as well as certain prospects are demonstrated, of the world and Russian development.