Abstract: This article explores the specificity of using national symbols in the political protests. The construction of the new meanings of national symbols by protest movements is viewed in the frame of collective memory. The goal of this research is to determine the peculiarities of involving unofficial national symbols in the protest discourse by the opposition political forces on the example of modern Mexico. It is demonstrated how the radical protest Neozapatismo movement uses the image of the country's national hero Emiliano Zapata for legitimizing the own agrarian program and rule in the state of Chiapas, as well as a resource for mobilizing the supporters of drastic agrarian reforms. The conclusion is made that due to such characteristics of national symbols as sacred nature, wide occurrence, recognition, they possess high mobilization potential, carrying out mobilization function in the political protests. It pertains to both, state symbols (flag, coat of arms, anthem) and unofficial symbols. National symbols can also be used by protest movements as a means of legitimation / deligitimation of authority. The author underlines that the use by political actors of national symbols, which may cause strong emotional response of the audience, should be considered as manipulative political technology.

Keywords: Emiliano Zapata, Zapatistas, political protest, state symbol, national symbol, symbolic politics, political symbol, Zapatismo, protest movement, Mexico

Abstract: The object of this research is the reflection in Siberian press of the last quarter of XIX – beginning of XX centuries of civil educational initiatives in Eastern Siberia. In this time, local press created the image of Siberian reality, and actively formed public opinion on the new sociocultural phenomena. The subject of this research is the public educational initiatives in the sphere of culture of Eastern Siberia on the pages of Siberian newspapers in the last quarter of XIX – beginning of XX centuries. The goal consists in determination of substantive components that frame public opinion on the implementation of educational initiatives in the sphere of culture. The relevance of the selected topic is defined by the fact that periodical press contributed not only to information awareness, but also to mobilization of intelligentsia to resolve topical issues of education. Historiography is based on the newspaper materials, published and archival materials. Newspapers of liberal trend enjoyed most popularity, since they not only reflected the modernization processes in the sphere of culture, but also framed public opinion. The author outlines several themes that became thematic dominants based on the frequency of mentioning: the urgent need for Eastern Siberia (in the context of absence of Zemstvo) to show public and private initiative in the sphere of culture and its reliance on the number of educated people; characteristics of government policy; role of officialdom; discreteness of public initiatives and its factors; higher purpose of educational institutions; need for active innovative leader; need for systematic and coordinated work of various voluntary organizations in the sphere of culture. According to the press,  successful realization of civil sociocultural initiatives required the presence of several factors; each of them to a greater or lesser degree determined the consolidation of innovations in sociocultural environment and dynamics in the development of civil initiatives in the sphere of culture.

Keywords: scientific society, civil society, educational societies, public opinion, bureaucracy, intelligentsia, culture, Рublic initiative, Siberian newspapers, educational goals

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 the nongovernmental organization as a system integrity, the forming factor of which becomes the goal setting. The author sets a task to analyze the content of the indicated category, as well as comes to a conclusion that it reveals in the following provisions: coordinated and mutually conditioned need of the individuals in joint nonprofit activity; legal means that contribute to exercising legal standing of the nongovernmental organization; methods of practical actions on connecting one with the other. It is proven that goal setting of the nongovernmental organization as a legal entity is specified depending on its organizational-legal form that regulates the structural elements (will of each of the incorporated citizen), as well as determines the key parameters of its functioning. Relevance of this study is substantiated by a special place of the nongovernmental organizations within the institutional basis of civil society; this, the understanding of their concept and organization of activity is the foundation for establishment of the consistent legal regulation of their status in practice. Theoretical importance consists in extension of the scientific representation on the nongovernmental organization as a collective subject of law, which is capable of operating within legal reality through the communicative and dialogical activeness of the volitional elements (people that comprise the volitional foundation of the nongovernmental organization).

Keywords: system integrity, private entity, legal entity, nongovernmental organization, goal, goal setting, element, self-sufficiency, legal means, need

Abstract:  The subject of this research is the political activity of organizations of Circassians (Adyghe) of Turkey (Federation of Caucasian Associations (Kaffed)) and Russia (International Circassian Association (ICA)) aimed at consolidation of the divided societies. The subject of the study is the phenomenon of divided ethnic groups in the context of globalization. The author pays special attention to such aspects of the topic as the reasons of division of Circassians, experience of ethnic revival of the Circassian people of Russia, and the largest foreign diaspora of Circassians in Turkey. Particular attention is given to projects and political practice of consolidation of the Circassian associations, as well as the key issues of their cooperation. Methodological basis of the research applies the universalistic and particularistic approaches towards analyzing the ethnic political mobilization, as well as content analysis of program documents, resolutions and news publications on the websites of Circassian associations. Analysis of the program documents and political activities of the Federation of Caucasian Associations (Kaffed) and the International Circassian Association allowed the author to identify the following aspects of interaction: the revival of language and culture, recognition of the Circassian genocide, repatriation to the historical homeland, foreign policy aspect of Russian-Turkish relations. Scientific novelty consists in revelation of the two strategies of political activity of ethnic minorities and diasporas in the context of globalization: "globalization from below" or the path of ethnic nationalism.

Keywords: ethnic organization, ethnic resurgence, divided ethnic groups, Turkey, Russia, Caucasian War, Circassians, diaspora, consolidation, political activity

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the analysis of legal regulation of the questions regarding realization of control over the work of non-governmental organizations, as well as limits of such control. Special attention towards the question of legal regulation of the aforementioned activity is substantiated by the contestation of corresponding norms in the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation (Judgment of April 8, 2014 No. 10-P) and recommendations of the European Commissions for Democracy through Law, also known as Venice Commission (CDL-AD(2014)025, CDL-AD(2016)020-e). Examination of peculiarities of judicial control on the disputes associated with the limitations of rights of the non-governmental organizations necessitate the need for enhancing efficiency of exercising their powers by public authorities. Adoption of the Code of Administrative Court Procedure alongside the legislative consolidation of the peculiarities of control activity with regards to separate non-governmental organizations imply changes in the judicial practice on disputing decisions made by public authorities. Relevance of this research is justified by the tasks on transformation of the institution of judicial authority, establishment of effective mechanisms of control activity, as well as strengthening requirements towards the judicial opinion. The author indicates the trends on improvement of legislation in the analyzed area.

Keywords: non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, public association, civil society, Court jurisdiction, judicial control, state control, foreign agent, undesirable organization, unregistered organizations

Abstract: The subject of the study is the Kurdish question, which is a complex problem. Respect for human rights is a measure of the internal danger of the Kurdish countries. An objective analysis of the Kurdish national movement in modern conditions does not leave such an important issue as the role of women in the Kurdish society and the national liberation movement without attention. An important factor in solving the Kurdish issue is participation in public organizations and movements. Women participate in the political process of Kurdistan at various workplaces of Kurdistan (PKK, RKK), Women's Association in Kazakhstan (KJK), Association for Support and Education of Women KA-DER, World, as well as acute social problems provoking the oppression of modern women. Analysis of the real situation of women and their women's movements in society is of great theoretical and practical importance, since without an integrated scientific analysis, an objective and complete assessment of what is happening in Kurdish society is impossible. The authors use an integrated, systematic approach in combination with political, historical and other methods. To consider two interrelated processes: the participation and role of Kurdish women in the national liberation movement and the impact of the movement on the social-political status With modern women. The study confirms that women working in the Kurdish language do not have equal opportunities for women, and they do not have the right to receive legal assistance. The goal is to destroy the stereotype about the social and civil potential of women.A comprehensive analysis of the concept of counteraction to financial and political problems in society is presented. The theoretical conclusions of the authors are supported by examples of reports on violations and the development of liberation movements in various civil spheres, as well as the results of their achievement for the uniformity and participation in the life of the regions.Read the document, which sets out the main provisions of the law on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Keywords: Mono-nationalism, society, religious fanaticism, discrimination, National liberation movements, nationalism, Woman in Kurdistan, Political process, The Kurdish question, Religious jammats

Abstract: The subject of this article is the forms and methods of consolidation of public forces based on citizens’ pro-active attitude. This approach corresponds to the objectives of Russia’s strategic development and the task to overcome the state of underdevelopment of the formal channels of public activity mobilization that was outlined in the Final report on the results of the expertise on the current challenges of Russia’s social and economic strategy until 2020 known as Strategy-2020: New Growth Model – New Social Policy. The novelty of the study is in how the author formulates questions and discloses certain aspects of the social and political life of the Russian society, closely related to the youth demographics, characterization of the political mass conscience, evaluation of the class divide. The article is part of larger study focused on the current issues how to form a theoretical model for the politically active societal forces and to find corresponding models with innovative contents. The author methodologically rejects certain principles of the well-known concept of the civil society and uses the methods of critical analysis and hypothetical and didactic approach; the author then comes to the conclusion that the study of current forms of public activity enables him to confirm the sustainability of the top-down approach of state governance subjects to initiation of civil activity within the constraints of scarce state financing and grants from multiple funding sources. The novelty of this analysis lies in the presentation of civil public service model that is related to potential opportunities for capacity building of civil initiatives through the creation of centers for the citizens’ civil and political activities, including those based on social and economic assets of joint stock companies (employee-owned enterprises) with development of the civil duty relations on the level of local governance. A civil society organization that has its own social and material base corresponds to a greater degree to the principles of society’s independence from the state structures and enhancement of links between the sovereign nation and the state.

Keywords: social unity, political system, politics, local self-governance, society, public civil service, national enterprise, citizen, state, pro-active civil attitude

Abstract: The subject of this research is the journal “Zhivaya Zhizn” (1907-1908), the specialty and content of which has not previously been systematized in the context of participation of its publishers in the church reforms movement of the Russian Orthodox Church in the early XX century. The work examines the reason of emergence of the journal, carries out a detailed review of its most important articles of Christian socialists V. P. Sventsinsky and V. F. Ern who published the journal along with S. N. Bulgakov and filled it with the articles by members of the Christian Brotherhood of Struggle. The author studies the social value of the journal, as well as analyzes the history of its publishing and reformist direction of the articles within the framework of succession of five publishers of the early XX century of the religious-reformist orientation (“Novyi Put”, “Voprosy Zhizni”, “Vek”, “Narod”). The author demonstrates that despite the declaration of opposition to “Neo-Christians”, the journal “Zhivaya Zhizn” carried out its part of the task among publishers that presented themselves as publishing bodies of the free religious thought. Namely in these periodicals of pre-revolutionary Russia, the ideology and philosophy of the “new religious consciousness”, social Christianity, and Church “liberation”, were the subject of the open discussion. This research shows that the journal “Zhivaya Zhizn” serves as the source for accumulation of facts that during the period of 1907-1908 the ideology of its publisher Christian Brotherhood of Struggle, despite the claimed opposition to “Neo-Christianity”, was in line with the religious reformism evolved in the early XX century in Russia.

Keywords: Ern, social Christianity, Church reformation, Sventsinsky, New religious consciousness, Christian socialists, Religious reformism, social movement

Abstract: The authors thoroughly examine the Komsomol patronage over the Pioneers under the conditions of Khrushchev Thaw. The source basis of the article contains the archive documents, primarily the documents from the Russian State Archive of Sociopolitical History and State Archive of Sociopolitical History of Tambov Oblast. The originally introduced into the scientific discourse documents of the lower-level Pioneer and Komsomol organizations allowed adjusting multiple conclusions of the documents of the higher-level authorities, as well as eliminate the stereotypes established within the historical science. Komsomol is viewed as a certain Soviet “ministry of youth”, interlink between the government, youth, and children. The experience of Komsomol activity and Pioneer organization is being evaluated from human and state perspective. Summarizing the patronage Komsomol activity at the brink of the 1950’s –1960’s the authors determine the increase of its efficiency; there was an active search for the most efficient forms and methods of working with various age groups of Pioneers. At the same time, the success of any initiative completely depended on the subjective factor: wherever there were people capable (not just enthusiastic) to carry out difficult and important tasks, the children living in these towns received an opportunity to not just pass time, but to also acquire rather useful communication skills, and were becoming involved in socially beneficial projects.

Keywords: Druzhina, Khrushchev, Youth, Children, Patronage, Pioneer levels, Summer camp, Joint detachment, Pioneers, Komsomol

Abstract: The subject of this research is the role of public organizations in formation of the language policy of the following cantons of Switzerland – Fribourg, Valais, and Graubünden. The multilingualism of the said cantons is officially codified in their constitutions and legislations; however, de facto the equality of rights among the language groups of the populations took some time to establish. It is assumed that such public organizations as “The Society of German Catholics” of Fribourg, “The Roman League” of Graubünden, etc. working with the language minorities, have affected the development of the language law and policy within the cantons. This article recites the data from the Swiss and international researches on the stated topic since the end of the XIX century until today. The work of these organizations resulted in the development of the indigenous identity among the language minorities, as well as in the consolidation of their efforts. By means of public campaigns, the organizations were attempting to attain the equality of language rights, as well as referendums on the introduction of changes into the language legislation.

Keywords: yazykovaya politika, obshchestvennye organizatsii, Shveitsariya, referendum, yazykovoe pravo, kantony, mnogoyazychie

Abstract: The subject of this research is the international consulting activity of the non-governmental organizations (NGO). The main access of NGO to the international arena is the cooperation with the international governmental organizations. This cooperation is formally established with attainment of the consultative status (as the United Nations Economic and Social Council of the UN) or other official status. NGOs that operate on the international arena represent a particular group of organizations; they are identified by specific relationship with the government. In turn, the government adheres to a certain vector with such NGOs. This article reviews precisely the Russian NGOs, which conduct an international consulting activity; it based on the results of the sociological research via the method of expert interviews. The research was conducted in the spring of 2015; overall, 12 experts, representing the Russian NGOs or the government authorities that cooperate with these NGOs, participated in the survey. The scientific novelty consists in the examination of a particular group of NGOs that revolve in the international consulting field. The author’s main conclusion is that the Russian government structures collaborate with the Russian NGOs by following the general line, which can be describes as the line of resource support. There are two strategies characteristic to the Russian NGOs with regards to the government authorities: the strategy of active cooperation, and the strategy of limited cooperation.

Keywords: Non-governmental organizations, International consulting activity, Intergovernmental organizations, Strategies of NGOs, Sociology of international relations, Resource support of NGOs, Expert interview, Consultative status, ECOSOC, Russian NGOs

Abstract: In order to determine the organizational-theoretical foundations of the unification of the youth movement in Soviet Russia, the author meticulously studied the materials from the congresses and conferences of the Communist Party and Komsomol, legislative acts of the USSR and the RSFSR, speeches of the party and Komsomol leaders, as well as the edicts of the plenums of the Central Committees of the Russian Communist Party and the All-Union Communist Party. Based on the documents mostly kept in the Russian state archive of socio-political history and achievements of modern Russian historiography, the author presents the historical-legal research that demonstrates the key factors of the formation of monopoly of the Communist youth union. A special attention is given to the theoretical foundations of the correlation between Komsomol and Scouts, cultural-educational and religious youth unions, as well as the Russian social-democratic union of working youth. The author discovers the prerequisites of extrusion of rustic and student alternatives to Komsomol from the Russia’s youth movement.

Keywords: Komsomol monopoly, Communist Party, rustic alternatives, Scouts, student years, students, youth movement, Komsomol, socialist- democrats, political control

Abstract: The subject of the research in the present article are the specific characteristics of the functioning of Russian and Bolivian trade unions, the factor of evolution of their strategies and tactics, the reasons of the development of oppositional trade union movement in these countries. Independent trade union movement in modern Russia is in its infancy, and faces some problems, which justifies the importance of studying the experience of trade union movement in other countries. The main problems, the solution of which now defines the efficiency of a trade union as a social institution, are as follows: the formation of a "flexible" labour market, enlargement of transnational corporation that require the elaboration of new strategies of the social protection of the workers. The work is based on systems and social-cultural approaches, the author has used the method of comparative (cross-national) analysis, as well as the traditional analysis of documents. The criteria of comparison considered in the present work are the strategy and tactics of the trade unions, the structure of the trade union movement, the trade unions' attitude to the economic reforms in the country and key social issues of the studies period. The article considers the trends of the evolution of the trade union movement in the two countries. The author draws a conclusion regarding the common specific features in the development of the trade union movement in Russia and Bolivia at a certain stage (1990s), caused by the social-economic likelihood of the two countries. Among such specific features there are orientation on short-term radical goals and criticism of neoliberal policy. In the following period (2000s) the political mobilisation of the Russian trade unions decreases, the level of the popular trust reduces, while the Bolivian trade unions are still one of the most active actors of the political process in the country. 

Keywords: trade union, mass protests, social movements, structural reforms, neoliberal reforms, transition society, political mobilisation, strike movement, social partnership

Abstract: The article considers the question of participation of the Prisons Custody Society in the process of correction of the convicted persons. The author characterises the major fields of concern of the Society which laid the foundation for the formation of the institution of public control over the reinforcement of rights of persons residing in the places of forced imprisonment; penitentiary medicine; organisation of education and labour in detention places; penitentiary legislation, etc. The Society actively engaged in implementing various innovations: 1) prison premises were subject to reconstruction: big windows were installed in order to provide larger fresh air intake in cells and corridors, the cell doors were furnished with small folding windows, pavements were laid in the prison yards; 2) the members of the Soceity themselves accomodated the prisoners by their age, type of crime and degree of culpability; 3) works were organised for the prisoners: workshops on cardboard craft, binding, woodwork, etc. were launched; 4) churches were built in prisons, equipped with praying rooms; 5) special uniform was introduced for the prisoners to facilitate their recognition in case of prison break; 6) asylums for prisoners' children were organised. The Prisons Custody Society at the time played a significant role in establishment and further development of the institution of peer pressure as a means of correction of convicted persons.

Keywords: correction of convicted persons, penal law, peer pressure, criminal penalty, penitentiary facilities, moral correction, public organisations, process of correction, criminal law, charity work