Abstract: This article examines the evolution of propaganda since the ancient times until the present stage, as well as the ancient protopropaganda. The authors analyze the transitioning processes from the ancient times to early Christianity from the perspective of state ideology. The article also studies the emergence of Protestantism and its role in development of Capitalism and establishment of the economic system of the XX century, which the authors call the economic model of Keynes-Barnays. The newest propagandistic opportunities and the potential for processing big data is reviewed. The article explores the phenomenon of the recent decade – the social networks as the new instrument of propaganda. The scientific novelty consists in examination of the propagandistic opportunities of Hollywood and the analysis of the potential of big data processing, new terms of implementation of the future consumption, implementation of the behavioral templates, information capsule, description of the postwar economy as the Keynes-Barnays model. A conclusion is made on the singularity of propaganda and the need for further research of this phenomenon.

Keywords: the singularity of propaganda., infocapsule, patterns placement, future placement, social networks, Keynes-Barnays model, protestantism, social credit score, ancient protopropaganda, axial age

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the strategic level of legitimation in the de facto states. Such aspect of legitimation of power is also important for the internationally recognized states; however, for the newly formed polities it is particularly acute. At the same time, the topic of legitimation strategies in the de facto states is yet to be examined. Based on the examples of the post-Soviet de facto states (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), the author demonstrates how the ideology, fundamental myth, personalism (charisma), procedural mechanisms and performance are used by their governments for legitimation of the new polities.  The theoretical foundation contains the six-element legitimation model proposed by the German and Dutch scholars J. Ahrens, M. Brusis and M. Schulze Wessel. The article provides the definition of the strategic level of legitimation of power in the de facto states. The author determines the main strategies implemented by the governments of the de facto post-Soviet states: legitimation through the gradual disassociation from the parenting state; strategy of affiliation with the Russian Federation; strategy of imitating the democratic institutions; legitimation through neglecting the international recognition; through appeal to the factual status, capability to enter the relationship with other states.

Keywords: international recognition, post-Soviet area, Nagorno-Karabakh, Ttransnistria, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, strategy, legitimation of power, state de-facto, parent state

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the examination of the effect of sociocultural foundations upon the pace and character of the relationship between the countries. The key place in this work belongs to the role of theoretical grounds and practical aspects of sociocultural foundations of the relations between Russia and the European Union. It is demonstrated that currently the culture is the pivotal element within the integral system of the European Union, as well as its relations with Russia. Analyzing the impact of the culture upon the establishment and maintenance of Russia-European Union relations, the author underlines that the cultural diplomacy along with the establishment of cultural ties are the most efficient instruments in the modern world politics. The relevance of this research is substantiated by the presence of a serious crisis in Russia-European Union relations. Elucidating and comparing the possible vectors of development of Russian policy, the author underlines that there are no realistic alternatives to the Russia-European Union cooperation, and the betterment of relations between them can form upon creation and advancement of a common Russian – European sociocultural space.

Keywords: Russia-Europe common space, Russia, national interests, international relations, cultural integration, culture, common cultural space, European Union, Russia-Europe relations, sociocultural ties

Abstract: This article is dedicated to examination of the impact of political culture and political traditions upon the character, fate and consequences of liberal reforms in Russia. Using the historical examples, the author demonstrated that none of the conducted liberal reforms in Russia, including the reforms of the late XX century, did not reach the set tasks, as well as each attempt of liberal modification subsequently led the country to departure from the initial goals and conservative renaissance. It is noted that at every stage of the Russian history, liberal projects came into contradiction with the traditional structure and traditional values of political culture of the society and government, which were far away from the liberal values of Western countries. The author questions whether or not Russia can align the liberal reforms with the genetics of political culture, and do the Russian political traditions allow the country to follow the path of sustainable democratic development. A conclusion is made that conservatism of the modern Russian society along with consolidation in mass consciousness of the values of order, stability and ideas of traditionalism, in a political-cultural aspect is a fairly expected result of the reforms of the late XX century. The author believes that preservation of the traditional foundations of the political culture of Russian citizens is defined not only by the political-cultural genetics, but also depends on the economic, situational and true goals of the government, which is the key subject and guarantor of the reforms in Russia.

Keywords: civil society, liberalism, conservatism, political development, political values, political traditions, political culture, political reforms, democratization, authoritarianism

Abstract: The subject of this research is the urban communities. The goal is to determine the scope and sphere of activities of urban communities of a particular city, and reveal their resource potential in the socioeconomic development of the territory. In the process of municipal administration, the self-governing bodies influence the municipal formation, interact with various objects for improving the living standards using the available resources. The author assumes that the existence of multiple communities in a city testifies to the accumulation of social capital that can be used for solution of municipal issues. The materials covered in the research educe that social capital is a resource influencing the economic growth, quality of social services an institutions of public administration. Citizens’ involvement in the communities is viewed as an indicator of social capital. There is no systematized information on the unregistered urban communities that manifest themselves in the city of Ivanovo, which affects the effectiveness of administrative decision-making. The author conducted monitoring of social networks searching for information about the urban communities, analysis of secondary sociological information on the topic, materials of the open Internet sources and literature. As a result, the author was able to determine the scope of activities of urban communities, as well as confirm that the united by social ties city residents are ready for collective actions and participate information of social capital. This work with complement the research on the impact of social capital upon the effectiveness and quality of municipal administration and broaden perspective on possibility of participation of the communities in the development of the territory.  Further formulation of practical recommendations on increasing the efficiency of interaction between the self-governing voided, communities and city residents is required.

Keywords: municipality, non-commercial organizations, civil society, social resources, local government bodies, social capital, municipal government, community, public participation, self-organization

Abstract: The subject of this research is geopolitics of the United States with regards to the countries of Central Asia. The object of this research is the countries of Central Asia. Since the XVIII century, the Central Asia region has been a geopolitical object of global importance.  Thus, one of the key reasons of US-Russian contention accompanied by large conflicts and chaos was the contest for Central and South Asia. Attention is given to theoretical substantiation of the positions and status of the countries of Central Asia region in geopolitics of the United States. The author underlines the theoretical comprehension of the region from the two opposing positions: on one hand – the “geopolitics of Atlanticists”, and on the other – the “geopolitics of Eurasia”. The positions of the United States strengthen after dissolution of the Soviet Union, which allowed to unstintingly structure the policy, implementing its projects of the republics of Central Asia. Currently, the geopolitical status of Central Asia region has changed; namely, its role on the international arena has been increasing, which affected the national policy of the countries.

Keywords: eurasism, atlanticism, continental powers, historical doctrines, national interest, geopolitical object, Central Asia, geopolicy, USA, Kygyzstan

Abstract:   This article is dedicated to the constitutional-legal analysis of some questions related to definition of the concept of social control over government in Russia. The author examines the genesis of the concept of social control over government in philosophical and legal literature since the moment of its origination until the present stage. Analysis of the concept of social control is conducted through the prism of the definition of power in a broad sense (as a philosophical and general sociological category), as well as in a narrow sense (as a legal category). The following methods were applied in course of this research: comparative law; historical; formal-logical; statistical; sociological studies. Based on the analysis of current legislation, the author considers and classifies the forms of exercising the government and municipal authoritative powers by the nongovernmental organizations. The work substantiates and provides original definitions to the concepts of power as a philosophical and general sociological category, as well as legal category. The author formulates the concept of social control over government.  

Keywords: delegated powers, Russian Federation, state, civil, social, people, constitutional and legal analysis, public control of power, joint regulation, responsibility