Abstract: The article is devoted to the reasons of indifference towards politics demonstrated by the young people living in the South of Russia. Empirically the research is based on the survey carried out in Krasnodar Territory in September and October of 2010 prior to the National Election Day on October 10, 2010. The purpose of the author’s research is to study the internal drivers of political activity of young people.

Keywords: social studies, activity, political, youth, indifference towards politics, youth (young people), motives, needs, participation, encouragement, factors.

Abstract: The article is devoted to public security as a target of research in social studies. The authors describe the difficulties of using this category in social studies and contradictions arising when studying it. The emphasis is made on the need to study public security in terms of a system of relations “statesociety- human-culture” and to build an associated concept of public security. The authors conclude that it is inefficient to study public security only as a method of defense against particular threats. The authors emphasize the need for evaluation of public security from the point of view of the value system of the Russian society. The research methodology involves institutional, antroposocietal and axiological approaches. The main conclusions of the research are the following: 1) definition of public security needs to be further studied within the framework of social humanities; 2) when developing research strategies, it is necessary to pay attention at values as the factors of collective and individual human life and activities; 3) the concept of public security needs to be developed.

Keywords: public security, national security, culture, values and standards, security, threat, society, definition of public security, concept of public security, social development.

Abstract: The research object is the nationalism in Baltic States. The research subject is specific features of Baltic nationalism as well as their determining factors. In her article Yamalova clarifies such features of national movements of the Baltic States as the peaceful methods of the struggle to achieve their goals and orientation at the capitalistic economic model which distinguishes their nationalism from African nationalism of the colonial system decay period. On the other hand, compared to European analogues, Baltic nationalism has a more radical separatism and stiffer language policy and rules for granting citizenship to migrants. The author examines historical, economic and ethnic factors and defines cause-effect relationships contributing to the aforesaid features of the national movements in Baltic States. The author uses the comparative method to study nationalism in Baltic countries. As a comparison, the author uses Catalonian nationalism which in many ways similar to Baltic nationalism. The main conclusions of the research are the provisions according to which Baltic nationalism has been defined by particular economic, social and ethic factors. The author also describes the cause-effect relationships between these factors. In particular, the external, opposed to the internal, industrialization has been caused by a more conflict influence of migration. The model of the Soviet industrialization created not only the split not only between cities and country-side but also between ethnic groups. Moreover, the higher level of the economic development of Baltic States has turned out to be an important conflict factor between regional authorities and the Union government. The above mentioned factors have played an important role in the development of specific features of Baltic nationalism which, compared to its European version, had more radical programs and targets regarding the Russian-speaking population and a higher level of separatism.

Keywords: nationalism, Baltic states, national movements, migration, ethnos, nations, modernization, politics, democracy, political regime.

Abstract: The subject of the study is the Cossacks as a category of ethno-social representations based on the philosophy of freedom of expressions. The authors of the article show the need to integrate the historical experience of Cossack associations into modern society. At all times Cossack communities had the two forms: social (military servicers) and ethnic (natural Cossacks). The aim of the research is to describe the situation that on the basis of socio-natural character of the duality of the Cossacks formed controversial history of the Cossacks. Research methodology involves comparative historical analysis, synthesis of monographic studies, polemical analogy to interpretation of generally accepted concepts. The result of the research article is that the author views the principles of Cossack liberties to be the basis of ethnic ideology of the Cossack communities as opposed to the state (Imperial) doctrine of the nature of the Cossack mentality and views. Ways of integrating traditional Cossack way of life in the socially dynamic environment are shown. Further researches can be used to understand the role of the Cossacks in the development of the Russian state. Many historians directly and openly say that in the XV–XVI centuries and up to the middle of the XVII century, Cossack ethnicity was perceived as a foreign element, harmful and dangerous. Conclusion. The paradigm of Russian Cossacks as Russian ethnic subgroup is based on the recognition of historical facts forming the Cossacks out of heterogeneous nations while maintaining its Slavic, or Great Russian anthropological dominant and grounds. Along with the general Great Russian dominating features, Cossack social community also had other specific differences in culture, psychology and lifestyle of military services.

Keywords: Cossacks, history, ethnicity, Russia, the State, tradition, law, culture, consciousness, worldview.

Abstract: The research subject is the relationship between the phenomena of tolerance and non-violence. In his article Shugurov underlines that tolerance and nonviolence is generally incompatible with such a negative phenomenon as violence. Shugurov analyzes conceptual approaches to the relationship between tolerance and the “violence and nonviolence” opposition. He provides grounds for the statement that nonviolent patterns of communication and social interaction are more appropriate. Shugurov also carries out a detailed analysis of the phenomenon of violence and demonstrates the minuses of this social practice as well as the absence of any moral justification of violence in this age of tolerance. The analysis performed by the author is based on the historicism principle. A significant role in the author’s research has been plaid by M. Bakhtin’s theory that it is possible to deal with the foreignness of the other without turning him into “ours”. The main conclusions include conceptual provisions on the need to specify the phenomenon of tolerance in communication practices, on one hand, and nonviolence struggle, on the other hand. The main results of the research also include the author’s conclusion about tolerance as the mental attitude to communication borders that combine tolerance with the legitimate use of force.

Keywords: tolerance, cultural dialogue, globalization, conceptual recognition, force resistance, violence, nonviolence, compromise, moral ideal, communication.

Abstract: The purpose of the article is to analyze social representations and expert evaluation of security risks and threats based on the research findings in the Altai and Stavropol Territories. Theoretical and methodological background to the research consists of the modern risk theories according to which the modern society produces not only material and nonmaterial benefits but also risks that create threats to the nature and humanity. In their article the authors provide the results of the sociological survey of the population and expert social representations of security threats in the two regions of the Russian Federation. Based on the data obtained, the security situation and therefore the social risk of this or that regional community are caused by the existing threats to Russian public security in general and the unique structure of the threats to public security of a particular region as a result of its geopolitical and socioeconomic situation. At the end of the article the authors conclude that there is a need to develop the mechanism of social risk management and this mechanism should be based on objective standards of personal and public security and take into account the risk behavior model.

Keywords: social risk, security, expert evaluation, security threats, social representations, danger, public security, personal security, risk tolerability, risk behavior.

Abstract: The research subject of the present article is the conflictogenic factors of the growth of international (ethnic) tension. Based on the integrated systems analysis of the results of different methodological approaches to the genesis of international (ethnic) conflicts, Zelenkov defines and analyzes universal conflictogenic factors. The author pays special attention to peculiarities of creation and development of international (ethnic) conflicts, definitions and classifications of conflictogenic factors of modern international (ethnic) conflicts based on these universal factors. In his research Zelenkov applies the integrated systems analysis of modern international conflicts and defines and classifies conflictogenic factors. The results of the research allow to conclude that a modern international conflict is caused by the two groups of conflictogenic factors. The first group consists of universal factors which, as a rule, may lead to escalation of tensed international relations and, as a result, to an international conflict. The second group involves specific factors that are attributive for each particular international conflict.

Keywords: international conflict, international relations, ethnic tension, conflictogenic factor, ethnos, nation, nature, conflict, cause of conflict, classification, universal factor.

Abstract: The research subject of the present article is the coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia, its historical grounds, geopolitical challenges and importance for art history. Zagoruiko examines the description of the coat of arms (blazon) from the point of view of heraldic principles. Based on the historical experience of Armenia, the author of the article studies the reasonability of symbols used in the modern coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia. Zagoruiko analyzes the main errors, strong and weak points of the coat of arms as well as geopolitical pretensions demonstrated by the coat of arms. The history of the development of the coat of arms shows how the state and its external policy have been changing throughout centuries. Armenia is one of the most ancient states of the Transcaucasia. Their symbols were first created long before heraldry and then were transformed through centuries. These symbols appeared on the first coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greater Armenia and other Armenian states in the early XIII century. Having undergone serious transformations, the coat of arms of today’s Armenia has nothing in common with the previous coats of arms. In his research Zagoruiko has used the historical approach to describe geopolitical processes ongoing in the Republic of Armenia. To understand errors in the coat of arms, the author has used the system and anthropological methods. During the Soviet period heraldry was forgotten as a science. Therefore in many regions including Armenia the coats of arms were just signs but not symbols. After the Soviet Union fell apart, many CIS countries literally invented their coats of arms referring to false historical grounds. In this article the author describes the history of Armenian coat of arms and tells us what the creators of the coat of arms were based on. Zagoruiko also studies the last legislative acts concerning the modern coat of arms of the Republic. The main conclusion of the article is that the Armenian coat of arms proves to be inadequate. There were no experts in heraldry and heraldic historians at the moment when the coat of arms were created and approved and that fact caused many errors in the coat of arms. The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia has never been studied from the scientific point of view or analyzed in terms of heraldry or history. According to the author, the modern coat of arms of Armenia is a great example of geopolitical ambitions towards other countries, it is based on false historical grounds and does not follow the heraldry principles.

Keywords: heraldry, coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia, Armenian kingdoms, history of the coat of arms, symbols, errors, numismatics, Armenian Highlands, Russian Empire, Turkey.

Abstract: In his article Nemtsev views the development of the consumer society in the post-soviet territories as a result of the influence of Western ideology of “overconsumption”. The author criticizes such ideology and the associated type of society. He examines other ideological concepts that could form the basis of Russian ideology (besides sustainable development) and concludes that they would have no prospects. The author also concludes that without ideology Russia would also fail as a state. The research subject of the article is the sustainable development as a common ideology of the Eurasian Union of Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan. Methodological basis of the research involves social and philosophical methods and principles. The aforesaid issues are studied on the basis of provisions and conclusions on the matter made by modern Russian and foreign researchers, authors and philosophers. Moreover, Nemtsev has used findings of sociological and statistical researches. He suggests that the paradigm of sustainable development should be the “core” of the ideology of the Russian Federation and future Eurasian Union. He proves that it is important to develop such an ideology and describes the ideological concept. According to Nemtsev, the Sustainable Development Code should be introduced to implement the sustainable development strategies of the Eurasian Union. The author emphasizes on the implementation of the idea of sustainable development in the sphere of education to provide for the evolutionary transition of the society to a “sustainable” lifestyle. Sustainable development is viewed as a system of better principles of the noospheric concept, socialism, Euriasianism and modern theories of the moneyless economy. Nemtsev also discusses the stages of establishing the sustainable development concept as a future state ideology.

Keywords: sustainable development, ideology, Eurasian Union, national idea, globalization, global processes, consumer society, integration of post-soviet territories, geopolitics, custom union.

Abstract: This article is devoted to the evaluation of risks and threats of the implementation by the West (the United States and its closest military and political allies in the European Union) the scenario of a color revolution in Russia. The author analyzes the necessary and sufficient conditions for the implementation of the schemes of color revolution in Russia at the present stage of the political development and assesses the ability of the Russian government and the Russian political system to successfully withstand the onslaught of color revolutions. Karpovich also examines the role of the socalled non-system opposition to organize mass protest movement in Russia as the main element of the classical schemes and technologies of color revolutions. The research methodology is based on the system, structural and functional, and comparative political approaches. The author concludes that the risks of the color revolution in Russia continue to grow, especially with the devaluation of the ruble and growing economic crisis in the background. However, the results of the study indicate that the Russian “non-systemic opposition” technically cannot turn into ideology or a driving force of color revolution because it does not fit the parameters of the basic Anglo-Saxon scheme and does not meet the requirements for leaders and activists of the “color revolutions” or “Maidans”.

Keywords: politics, society, USA, color revolution, conflict, state, security, interests, Russia, war.

Abstract: The article is devoted to political features of the Russian ruling elite at the end of the 1990th — 2000th when Vladimir Putin was in power. Russian political experts describe it as the period of democracy consolidation. Based on massive biographical materials, the author analyzes the Russian ruling elite and particular groups in office based on their main social features such as: place of birth, age, education and career. In his article Bogatyrev tries to find out how radical the social and political changes have been after Vladimir Putin came to office and what impact these events have had on the process of the renewal of the ruling elite in the Russian Federation. The author of the article also views the policy conducted by the experts with reference to the government machine and military government of the country and defines the role of the new ruling elite, its competence and efficiency in governing the country. The methodological grounds of the research involve politological, juridical, historical and sociological researches that reveal genesis, essence and principles of the development of the new ruling elite of Russia (2000–2012). The research is based on general principles of studying social and political phenomena such as systematic, holistic and contradictory development as well as the unity of the historical and logical, theory and practice. The topicality of the research is caused by the fact that the author has solved the important task related to the further development of the politological concept of the development functioning of elite groups of the Russian society: the author has described the stages of the development of regional ruling elites in Russia and the role of the institution of regional authority. For the first time in the academic literature the author outlines the main functions of regional and centralized ruling elites at the regional and general national levels (representation, defense and lobbying through interests of the regional community, support of bilateral relations, influence or participation in the process of the formation of central authority).

Keywords: political elites, the Russian Federation, government, president, efficiency, development, geopolitics, political instability, state institution, interests.

Abstract: The research subject of the present article is the political banditism as a criminal form of supporting political activity. The purpose of the research is to develop a new scientific category “political banditism” and to provide the definition of political banditism from the point of view of the modern Russian political criminology. The tasks of the research include the following: a) to analyze and critically evaluate contemporary researches on the problems of political banditism; b) to provide a general description of the basic elements of political banditism as a criminal form of supporting political activity; c) to offer a definition of political banditism as a criminal form of supporting political activity. The methodological basis of the research involves dialectical materialism and associated general research methods such as comparison, analysis, synthesis and others methods of humanities. The main result of the research is the author’s definition of “political banditism” as a political and criminological category and description of the main elements of its structure and meaning of political banditism as a criminal form of supporting political activity. The scientific novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the author provides a new definition of political banditism. This definition is different from definitions offered by other researches as it involves criminal support of political activity.

Keywords: political criminology, political crime, political extremism, political banditism, banditism, expropriation, economic terrorism, support (guarantees) of political activity, political activity, political actors.