Abstract: The article is devoted to the scientific consideration of foreign researchers' views on the issues and prospects of military-political, trade-economic and socio-cultural relations of the Russian Federation with the countries of the Middle East during the presidency of V.V. Putin and D.A. Medvedev from 2000 to 2023. The paper aims to identify the main points of view of foreign researchers on the issues and prospects of military-political, trade, economic, social and cultural relations of the Russian Federation with the Middle East countries during the presidency of V.V. Putin and D.A. Medvedev in 2000-2023. The purpose of the work is to highlight the main points of view on Russia's Middle East policy and identify the key areas of interest among foreign researchers. The object of the study is to examine the geopolitical significance of the region and the ways in which this significance is reflected in the studies of foreign scholars. The subject is the views of foreign researchers on Russia's policy in the Middle East. The article analyzes the differences and similarities in the interpretations of the effectiveness and consequences of Russia's actions in the region. The study is based on the principles of objectivity, systematicity and consistency. The main conclusions of the paper are that foreign researchers have different attitudes towards Russia's policy in the Middle East. Some see this policy as a constructive approach to developing relations with all countries in the region, while others point to Russia's desire to strengthen its influence and interests in certain countries and, at the same time, Russia's attempt to upset the already fragile balance of power in the region, which is considered one of the most tense and unstable in the world.

Keywords: Arab-Israeli conflict, Arab Spring, international mediation, geopolitical interests, conflict-prone region, foreign oriental studies, regional safety, historiography, Middle East, Russia

Abstract: The subject of this research is the Near East as a conflictogenic territory – the region that reveals confrontation with the Western civilization, as well as having a cascade of internal contradictions. The author explores the attempts of establishing the Western democratic structure in the countries of the region, and analyzes the results of such attempts. Particular attention is dedicated to determination of civilizational characteristics of the regions and their manifestations in political process and historical retrospective. The article provides examples demonstrating the emergence of the unique models of sociopolitical order as a response to political and economic influence of the West. The author considers the experience of Iran, Libya and Tunis, analyzes the positions of terrorist organizations, and gives assessment for the prospects of creation of Caliphate. The author’s special contribution consists in description of response of a number of Near East countries to the cultural and economic expansion of the West, taking into account a difficult and mosaic from the civilizational and political perspectives public method of its organization. The research reflects the evolution of ideological grounds of the unity of Near East countries, as well as reviews the strong and weak aspects of the various social models emerging in the region.

Keywords: Arab socialism, Panarabism, Civilizational alternative, Islam civilization, Midde East, East-West confrontation, Civilization project, Iran state model, Libia military conflict, Cnfrontation

Abstract: This article studies the main mechanisms of administration used by developed countries for managing controlled territories. The basis of this research is the historical analysis of the cases of large international zones of influence competing. As a result the author shows that natural conditions promoted the formation of states that became economic centers and used financial instruments of the free market and ideology and wealth-based attractiveness to influence other states. These methods are considered to be primary methods. States that strive to develop independently when a large financial center is present, had to employ defensive methods. The author shows that, in normal conditions, a state that exists in more favourable conditions compared to its neighbours often force uneven agreement terms on others. In time such a state becomes a major financial center with an almost-free economy. Sometimes influence was spread via nominally-independent international organizations. States that develop with a large economic center present, in order to gain the ability to compete, had to limit outside influence first, by the means of economic isolation, or economic dependence of the state from its territory. One of the prime instruments of foreign politics for competing against major economic centers are unions with other states, based on equality. Those were not the conditions that could be offered by a state that builds its superiority on the dependence of its neighbours. At later stages, these states transition to expansionist politics and attempt to establish direct dominion over annexed territories.

Keywords: competition between countries, independent organizations, international agreements, centralized administration, planned economy, free trade, democracy, financial centers, influence spread, state administration

Abstract: A freshly released IMF’s World Economic Outlook brings (yet again, for the sixth year in a row, and for the third time this year only) no comforting picture to anyone within the G‑7, especially in the US and EU. Will the passionately US-pushed cross-Atlantic Free Trade Area save the day? Or, would that Pact-push drag the things over the edge and mark an end of the unionistic Europe? Is the extended EU conflict with Russia actually a beginning of the Atlantic-Central Europe’s conflict over Russia, an internalization of mega geopolitical and geo-economic dilemma — who accommodates with whom, in and out of the Union? Methodological basis of the research are systemic, structural and functional, and comparative istorichseky kultkrno-civilizational approaches, methods of analysis, synthesis, simulation. Finally, does more Ukrainian (and Eastern Europe) calamities pave the road for a new cross-continental grand accommodation, of either austerity-tired France or über-performing Germany with Russia, therefore the end of the EU? For whose sake Eastern Europe has been barred of all important debates such as that of Slavism, identity, secularism and antifascism? Why do we suddenly wonder that all around Germany-led Central Europe, the neo-Nazism gains ground while only Russia insists on antifascism and (pan-)Slavism?

Keywords: international relations, foreign politics, politicheskie konflikty, Byzantium, Europe, Slavism, hitory, nation, interests, security