Abstract: This article explores the role played by the liberal values within political secularization (secularization of political power), as well as secularization on individual level (erosion of the observation of religious practices, values, and beliefs). The role of socioeconomic and political factors in secularization – such as capitalism, advancements of sciences, and Reformation – is reconsidered in relation to the role of liberal values. The existing concepts of secularization are reinterpreted to integrate the factor of human rights and liberal values into this process. Historical and philosophical approaches to the subject of the study allow the author to discover substantial contradictions within social assignment of religion and liberal values, and to draw a conclusion that liberal values have played a crucial role in secularization.

Keywords: capitalism, democracy, human rights, right to education, fundamental rights and freedoms, liberalism, secularization, freedom of religion, religion, law

Abstract: This article presents the analysis of Kazakhstan’s role in the weightiest of the international organizations, built upon confessional principle and the principle of unity of Turkic countries. The role of these organizations gains a special significance in the conditions of the new geopolitical realities of the global and regional development. The prospects of development of the Islamic vector of Kazakhstan are being examined in the context of the prospects of its impact upon the Russia-Kazakhstan relations. Unlike other regional development projects of the largest geopolitical players such as China and the United States, the Turkish strategy bases itself on the cultural and historical component, aimed at unification of the Turkic people and preservation of the civilizational unity. The scientific novelty of this research consists in viewing Kazakhstan and Turkey as a new alternative integration core of the Eurasian space. The main result of the research is the substantiation of the needto account not only for the pragmatic economic factors in structuring the strategy of the Russia-Kazakhstan relations, but also the cultural, civilizational, and religious aspects.

Keywords: pragmatic economic factors, regional development, international organizations, Islamic factor, Kazakhstan-Turkey relations, Russia-Kazakhstan relations, cultural aspect, integration, identity, foreign factor

Abstract: This article explores the positions of Russian electoral legislation that regulates candidate registration and electoral list based on electoral signatures. It is noted that as a result of an unsystematic amendments to the electoral legislation that took place in the recent years, this legislation has lost its internal logic. The author thoroughly researches the practice of candidate registration and electoral lists at the regional and municipal elections over the recent years. It is noted that in accordance with the legal position of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the purpose for the candidate registration system and electoral lists is to only allow candidates that have a sufficient support from the electorate. The author compares the norms of the electoral legislation on the mandatory number of signatures for registration and not requiring separate political parties to collect signatures for elections of various levels. The comparison reveals lack of logic in establishment of norms pertaining to the rules of candidate registration and electoral lists. Analysis of the registration process and electoral lists on the regional and municipal levels confirms that the registration system based on signatures does not carry out its constitutionally important function:it leads to exclusion of candidates that have voter support, but at the same time allows candidates that then get low results. The author proposes series of measures for restoration of normal political competition at Russian elections.

Keywords: candidate registration, electoral lists, electoral unions, political parties, political competition, electoral law, elections, voter signatures, invalid signatures, electoral commissions

Abstract: The object of this research is the political process of modern Russia. The subject of this research is the key issues of the political process in modern Russia and the management techniques for the purpose of its institutionalization. The subject is being explored not only from political and sociological perspectives, but a special attention is also given to the philosophical component of this issue. The author determines the key issues of the modern Russian political process and its trends. The work includes results of the latest scientific research in this field and offers various positions of specialists in this area. The author highlights the factors that affect the efficiency of institutionalization. As the basis for ensuring decrease in transaction costs of the institutionalization process, the author proposes a mechanism for inclusion of potential of the indirect political actors into the system of government administration.

Keywords: political administration, democratic transition, management techniques, government administration, political system, civil society, institutionalization, political process, transitional society, Russian society

Abstract: The subject of this research is the food market of the country which functions under the conditions of embargo. It is determined that none of the main segments of the Russian provision strategies have been realized to the full extent. This is explained by the predominant support of the major agricultural manufacturers, while it is needed the most in the smaller actors of agribusiness. The authors demonstrate the low level of efficiency of the anti-sanction measures and substantiate the need to abolish them. The results of the research reveal the need to cancel the subsidized lending for agribusinesses due to the high level of corruption in the mechanism of allocation of the subsidized loans, and channel the funds to lowering the interest for all agricultural businesses, which will create equal conditions throughout the industry. The authors propose new approaches in subsidization of the forming all sale distribution centers that are based on the prioritized formation of municipal cooperative logistical centers in direct proximity with agricultural producers with a 50% support from the government. The acquired results can be used in forming the food strategy on the federal and regional levels in the conditions of geopolitical uncertainty.

Keywords: sanctions, market, provisions, wholesale distribution centers, subsidized loans, food quality, purchasing, agribusiness, strategy, subsidies