Abstract: This article analyzes the ways of legitimation that are characteristic to the Russian-language propaganda of the terrorist group “Islamic State” that is banned in Russia. The arguments the extremist propaganda resorts to are revealed on the example of the online magazine “Istok”: founded on Muslim law, legitimation on the basis of Quranic texts, appeal to moral justice of the establishment of “Caliphate”, and positioning of “Caliphate” as the traditional sovereign state with its attributes. Description is given to the peculiarities of the Russian-language jihadist propaganda and radical discourse of the “Islamic State” overall: an important distinctive feature of the Islamist propaganda is the archaic motives. Having studied the propagandistic materials, the author outlines such features of jihadist propaganda as propensity to determinism and fatalism, orientation towards eschatological worldview, reference of the logical and political arguments to the times of the establishment of Islam. Application of the methods of political linguistics to the information product of terrorist organization reveals the basic strategy of legitimization of the “Islamic State”, which resorts to the archaic, establishment of the “caliphate” of Islamists to the time of origination of Islam and the era of the “righteous caliphs”. The elements of the traditional state are largely translated onto the external, non-Muslim environment: coverage of the activity of the administrative structures of Islamic State, demonstration of the own economic system, and abundance of national symbols. The analysis of propagandistic materials allows concluding on the nominal role of the leader of the jihadist group Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose name is associated not only with the phenomenal success of the jihadist project, but also the equally painful defeat that the “Islamic State” suffered in the end.

Keywords: radicalism, jihadism, legitimation, terrorism, propaganda, Islamic State, radical islamism, islam, ISIS, extremism

Abstract: The subject of this research is the escalation of Turkey-Syria conflict in February–March 2020. The authors explore the prerequisites of the conflict, development stages, escalation factors, and consequences of confrontation. Description is given to the positions of the three opposing actors: Syrian-Russian, Turkish, and NATO bloc. The methodology of event analysis methodology is applied to the conflict. Emphasis is placed on the course of events reflected in charts. Use of the method of event analysis allows tracing the key vectors and their intersection: escalation – peacemaking. The author employs media reports of all parties to the conflict for demonstrating the peculiarities of escalation of the confrontation. The novelty lies in application of the method of event analysis method for assessing the specifics of escalation of the Spring Shield military operation in the conditions of modern hybrid warm, which provides different perspectives on the conflict. The conclusion is made on interaction of the actors and their impact upon escalation and peacemaking. It is established that Syria and Turkey exerted major impact upon escalation of the conflict, while Russia acted as the arbiter and the main force of moderation. Conflict potential of the Idlib crisis remains high and characterized as protracted semi-frozen conflict.

Keywords: De-escalation zone, Spring shield, Event Analysis, Hybrid war, Syrian Arab Republic, Idlib, Armed confrontation, Military conflict, Conflict of interests, Turkish Republic

Abstract: This article provides certain results of empirical study of the collective consciousness of the Russians through the prism of their reception of the principle of subsidiarity and values associated with this principle. The object of this research is the collective consciousness of the Russian society. The subject is the peculiarities of refraction of legal and political meanings of the principle of subsidiarity in the collective consciousness, as well as the degree of implementation of this principle in the relationship between the government and the citizens in Russia. The key research method is the questionnaire-based sociological survey. The acquired empirical data have undergone statistical processing and comparative analysis with the data of the most reputable sociological agencies of the Russian Federation. The novelty consists in examination of the principle of subsidiarity not only as a constitutional federal principle, but also as a technology for overcoming crises and mitigating intra-elite conflict. Using the material on the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection “COVID-19”, the author describes the changes that in the course of overcoming crises took place in consciousness of the Russian people with regards to the effectiveness of different level of government, as well as the conclusions drawn by the Russian Federal Center out of that crisis. Among the main conclusions, the author indicates the need of the Russian citizens for the strong and effective governance that would be directly related to the citizens and be within their reach. The author believes that such need corresponds the principle of the uniform system of public authority founded in the revised Constitution of the Russian Federation of 2002, which most consistently implements the principle of subsidiarity.

Keywords: crisis management technology, crisis, centralization and decentralization, division of jurisdiction, center-periphery model, separation of powers, subsidiarity, consolidation of elites, intra-elite conflicts, COVID-19

Abstract: The subject of this research is the institutional, organizational and technical peculiarities of the functionality of the system of incident management as a digital toolset for the response of the Russian public authority institutions to destructive and deviant newsworthy occurrences in social networks, instant messengers and online platforms aimed at youth as most active digital citizens. The goal of this article lies in characterizing the current digital situation in Russia, and test the work of the incident management system from perspective of timely determination and processing by the institutional agencies of fake messages aimed or online posts that call to action aimed at young audience for the period from 2012 to 2021. The novelty consists in determining the total number of appeals or complains submitted by the citizens regarding the measures or complacence of the authorities, which have been processed by the incident management system of each of the 85 Regional Management Centers for 2021, as well as in using digital toolset of the incident management system applicable to the data array of the social networks, instant messengers and online platforms (messages that call minors to participate in unauthorized rallies) and deviant newsworthy occurrences (fake sociopolitical posts in social networks and instant messengers), and time interval of their processing by the institutional agencies.

Keywords: Regional management center, Government coordination center, situation center, incident management, digital citizens, informational occasion, smart management, digital government, social network, fake message

Abstract: This article is explores the balance of powers in the strategic triangle United States – Russian Federation – People’s Republic of China in space. The key goal lies in assessment of the capacity of space industry in the listed countries. The relevance of the selected topic is substantiated by the strategic importance of the configuration of leadership in the new political space. Space race may bring to achieving technological superiority over the opponent by amplifying the influence in space using the latest and more powerful military and scientific developments. In the course of analysis, the author reveals the essential criteria for comparing the potential of the three countries. Through the prism of neo-realistic paradigm, interpretation is given to the quantitative indicators of the three powers. The article determines the leading countries in “space race”, and answers the question – which country has superiority to establish the rules of conduct in space. The “space race” actors have a sufficient level of power and are somewhat inferior in order to dictate the rules in outer space, or hinder the opponents in development of their space programs using political or economic leverage. China's aspiration to strengthen space capabilities for neutralizing any potential threats alongside commitment of China and Russia to challenge the dominance of the United States, paves the way for shifting the strategic competition between the US and China to space, which affects the military-strategic and technological spheres.

Keywords: National Security, Balance of powers, Leadership, Space Competitiveness, The US-China Rivalry, The US-Russia-China Strategic Triangle, Comparative Analysis, Space Race, Conflict of Interest, Space Program

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the examination of identity of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the Arctic in the context of environmental interdependence. The author reviews the current situation in the Arctic as a symbiosis of domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation being northern country. The transformation of identity is an implicit challenge for sustainable development in the region. The subject of this research is the phenomenon of self-determination of the indigenous population in the context of environmental agenda. The author dwells on the existing theoretical approaches towards studying the phenomenon of interdependence. The article aims to prove that the problematic of the identity of indigenous population may become a serious challenge for the foreign policy of the Russian Federation in the region. The novelty of this research consists on the fact that due to the Russian Chairmanship in the Arctic Council (2021 – 2023), the problem of self-determination of the indigenous small-numbered population remains unresolved, which generates an implicit threat to sustainable development of the region from the perspective of foreign policy discourse of the country. The conclusion is drawn that the existing environmental support initiatives through the international organizations and government structures of the Russian Federation and the Nordic countries do not imply direct representatives from the indigenous small-numbered population. The absence of a permanent dialogue results in the unconscious shift towards dependence.

Keywords: development, traditional, identity, self-determination, dependence, indigenous peoples, Arctic, minerals, foreign policy, north

Abstract: This article covers the problems of foreign policy problems faced by the Sahel countries. The research is dedicated to the peculiarities of the policy of Sahel Alliance in countering the risks and threats to regional security. The goal consists in outlining the key priorities and vectors of foreign policy of the Sahel countries. The methodological framework is comprised of the historical-comparative and historical-genetic methods, as well as content analysis of the doctrinal sources of the Sahel countries for determination of the foremost threats. This allows establishing differences between the approaches used by Chad, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso aimed at expansion of their economic, political and military influence in the Sahel Region. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that on the basis of content analysis of UN speeches of the leaders of Sahel countries, the author examines the prioritization of threats for the four countries of Sahel Region and the desired mechanisms for their elimination. The current challenge for the Sahel countries is to simultaneously protect their people and promote development via reform for establishing lasting and stable peace in the region. At the same time, such countries as Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and the Sahel Region overall have strengthen their strategic importance for the European foreign policy and security interests.

Keywords: instability, threats, challenges, Security, economy, foràing policy, 5g Sahel, Sahel, Africa, conflict