Abstract: This article deals with the role of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the development of humanitarian diplomacy. As one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world, the IFRC plays a key role in coordinating and providing assistance in emergencies, as well as in strengthening international cooperation and advocacy. The article analyses the main areas of IFRC activities, including its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in areas of armed conflict, natural disasters and other crisis situations. The mechanisms of the Federation's interaction with state structures, international organizations and non-governmental actors are considered, and their effectiveness is assessed. Special attention is paid to such aspects as resource mobilization, development and implementation of emergency preparedness programs, and support and protection of vulnerable groups. The author provides a detailed analysis of key initiatives and programs implemented by the IFRC, such as the “More Than Aid” strategy, the “Time for Humanitarian Action” initiative and climate change programs. The article uses general scientific methods and the method of situation analysis, which made it possible to determine the scope of scientific research and clarify the basic concepts and categories associated with the formation and development of the phenomenon of humanitarian diplomacy. In the process of preparing the article, such general scientific methods of cognition as analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, comparison, analogy, abstraction and generalization were used. A comprehensive and systematic study of the topic of the article is missing in the science of international relations. The article concludes on the relevance of the IFRC's activities for the development of humanitarian diplomacy and gives recommendations for strengthening its role in the future. The author proposes strategic directions to improve the IFRC's engagement with various actors in the international arena and to coordinate humanitarian efforts better globally.

Keywords: international relations, international organizations, armed conflicts, non-state actors, Red Cross, IFRC, Red Crescent, ICRC, International Humanitarian Law, Humanitarian Diplomacy

Abstract: The object of this research is an international organization “Human Rights Watch” that conducts and advocacy on human rights. The subject of this research is the activity of this international non-governmental organization since its establishment until 2020. The author examines such aspects of the topic as the history of creation of “Human Rights Watch”, the nature of its activity during the Cold War, the evolution of approaches towards the core issues in the area of human rights protection during the post-bipolar period; as well as analyzes the current campaigns of this international NGO. The methodological framework is comprised of the systemic, structural-functional, comparative-political approaches, methods of historicism, analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and observation. For the first time in Russian historiography, leaning on the primary sources and relevant scientific literature, the role of international non-governmental organization advocating for human rights “Human Rights Watch” is analyzes within the system of global governance since its foundation until the present. In conclusion, the author indicates a sizable contribution of the organization “Human Rights Watch” alongside other NGOs advocating for human rights in solution of global issues; however notes that these actors of world politics as not utterly unbiased and neutral organizations. On the one hand, namely due to the activity of such organizations, the problem of the supremacy of law,  universal human rights and freedoms became one of the key concepts of international relations at the turn of centuries; but on the other hand, they are rightly criticized for prejudice, political bias, and double standards.

Keywords: Freedom of speech, Child's right, Women's right, Dissidents, Human rights, International Relations, World politics, Global Governance, International Nongovernmental Organizations, Human Rights Watch

Abstract: The author analyzes the basic institutions of support of international ties of Russian regions including specialized bodies of administration and international agreements of Russian regions and investment promoting agencies. The study covers the structure of international ties of 6 neighboring regions of Central Russia: Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Tula and Lipetsk regions. The author characterizes the role of governing bodies, responsible for international activities, within the regional authorities system, estimates the forms and geography of international agreements of the regions under study. The author uses the information about foreign investments, brought in by the regions, as the criterion of their effectiveness. The author carries out comparative analysis of the existing system of institutions, coordinating international ties of Russian regions, which are the part of the internal, low-active model of international cooperation, in the context of the heightened competition for foreign investment. The author concludes that for the regions under study, the search for optimal configuration of institutions, responsible for international ties coordination, is still the urgent task. 

Keywords: Kursk region, Bryansk region, Orel region, foreign investments, international agreements, Russian regions, international ties, Kaluga region, Tula region, Lipetsk region

Abstract: The research subject is the regime of disclosure of information about lobbying established by the US legislation. Special attention is paid to the study of the mechanism of the “Lobbying Disclosure Act” implementation. The author reveals the problems faced by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives in their law enforcement activities. Besides, the paper considers particular decisions of the US Supreme Court which in this or that way deal with the exercise by the Congress of its legislative and administrative responsibilities. The author analyzes the real state of the process of legal regulation of lobbying in the US. The author applies various scientific methods, including historical, logic, comparative-legal and formal-legal. The novelty of the study lies in the analysis of significant, but not-so-obvious problems of implementation of the provisions of the law regulating the interaction between lobbyists and officials. Based on the profound analysis, the author offers various ways to solve these problems and concludes about the need for a serious revision of the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

Keywords: legal regulation, attorney, clerk, secretary, Congress, lobbyist, lobbying, lobbying activity, enforcement

Abstract: The article deals with lobbying activities of Russian and foreign interest groups at the international level in the conditions of global destabilization. The author studies the peculiarities of influence of economic actors (companies, corporations, financial institutions), which interests are connected with the settlement / escalation of the conflict between Russia and the Western world, on the public authorities in the United States and the European Union. In particular, the author analyzes the examples of successful and unsuccessful lobbying campaigns aimed at overcoming of confrontation and cancellation of sanctions. The methodology of the research is based on the systems approach, the structural-functional, comparative-historical, comparative-political and cultural and civilizational approaches, the methods of analysis,  synthesis,  induction, deduction, modeling and observation.The author concludes that the so-called "interest groups of peace" and "interest groups of war" have the direct impact on the international relations. The first ones are interested in cancellation of the restrictions for international business, but the second ones, on the contrary, associate their economic interests with the further escalation of the confrontation. The author concludes that the key factor for the resolution of the conflict is the improvement of lobbying activities of the "interest groups of peace" in the American and the European governments.

Keywords: interests, sanctions, international relations, foreign policy, interest groups, international lobbying, government relations, destabilization, values, security

Abstract: This article aims to shed light on the historic pre-requisites of the current processes taking place in the regions of South Asia and affecting the global order in the 21st century. Politological analysis of border conflict settlement in South Asia shows that there are six specific regional features of such settlement of border conflicts which exist in the area in question: economic; political; ideological; diplomatic; precedent; religious features. This work focuses on the political and economic component whose influence is mostly evident in these countries. The main research method we chose is the historical reconstruction of the key events in the near-border zones of India and China. As our conclusions, we can point out the following: settlement of the conflict between China and India on the whole is in a latent state. The rare negotiations at top level only ensure the stability of non-aggression. No real steps to settle the border conflict are taken. Some rare provocations in the tension zone serve as proof that the parties are not interested in any forced final resolution of this problem.

Keywords: region, independence, sovereignty, conflict, diplomatic relations, uprising, India, China, hostilities, foreign policy.

Abstract: The article concerns prerequisites for the metropolises becoming subjects of political processes at various levels. The author uncovers the main tendencies in the transformation of the political role of the large cities throughout their historic development. The global development tendencies of the latest decades include on the one hand the growth of the number of cities, and on the other hand growing number of their populations. Now more and more people around the globe live in large and ever-growing cities, and population concentration in such cities is growing as well. In a number of largest metropolitan cities of the world the population amounts to 15 000 000 people, and there is several dozens of cities where there are 5 000 000 to 10 000 000 residents. And there are hundreds if not thousands of millionaire cities. Moreover, in some areas with highly concentrated population the groups of cities and towns merge, and the differences between the city and town population, their cultures, lifestyles, psychology and everyday life are erased.

Keywords: international relations, politics, Russia, society, metropolis, diplomacy, state, interests, values, security.