Abstract: The article examines the theoretical models of technopolitics in the context of public administration. The focus of the article is on technopolitical models that act as means of implementing the practices of civic participation and joint management. The network principle of designing theoretical models of joint management is reflected. The analysis of theories of joint management in public policy and methods of coordination interaction is carried out. The model of "patisipatory manageability" as a state policy operating in conditions of uncertainty and complication of social transformations is considered separately. The approach to technopolitics as a tool for human empowerment is revealed. The specific mechanisms of civic participation embedded in the technical functionality of the Internet feedback platform "Public Services. We decide together." The main conclusions of the study: the scientific definition of the concept of "technopolitics" in modern political science is given, the problem of ambiguity of its understanding is also reflected. The place of technopolitics in the system of public administration is determined and opportunities for civil cooperation are taken into account. The analysis of the theories of joint management in public policy and the methods of coordination interaction, such as "governance", "democratization regulating management", "management based on cooperation", "joint management", "management through community participation", "community involving government", "integrated public management", "participatory manageability". The main models of technopoly are considered in the context of the resource approach and the network phenomenon associated with power and management. The technology of increasing state manageability is revealed on the example of the feedback platform "Public Services. We decide together."

Keywords: Civic engagement, Joint management, Political institutions, State policy, Feedback, Political technologies, Digital platforms, Technology development, Public administration, Technopolitika

Abstract: This article examines the effectiveness of using discourse analysis and content analysis for studying the political reform in Russia, as well as assesses the heuristic potential of both methods. Attention is turned to methodological difficulties that emerge in the context of sociological study of the systemic social processes. On the example of content analysis of the messages of the President of the Russian Federation, the author demonstrated the correlation between the discourse around the reform and the real course of reforms. The conclusion is made that proliferation of the interpretation of social reality as a text in sociology increases the relevance of both discourse analysis and content analysis, which is confirmed by their wide application in the course of sociological research of the political sphere. The author considers feasibility of the use of discourse analysis and content analysis for studying the political reform in Russia, and assesses the heuristic potential of both methods. The author draws attention to the methodological difficulties that arise in the sociological study of systemic social processes. It is established that the topic of reforms in the various spheres of social life is present in all messages of the President in one way or another. However, the connotation of the very concept of reform has gradually changed from solely positive in the first years of post-Soviet history, when the need for the early transition to new types of economic, political and social relations was justified, to neutral or rather negative, when the reforms are localized in particular spheres of society or are interpreted as disadvantageous.

Keywords: political sphere, political reform, systematicity, content analysis, discourse analysis, message of the President of the Russian Federation, discourse , text, methodology of sociology, communication technologies

Abstract: The author makes an attempt to deconstruct political space on the example of modern Russia. The object of this research is the political space of modern Russia as one political whole. The subject of this research is the disposition of “top” and “bottom” in the political space of modern Russia. Albeit a unified whole, the political space in fact is a sum of contradictory and balancing oppositions. The presence of power enhances social conflict, and actualizes political process. The author proves this thesis, referring to numerous examples from the Russian politics. The main conclusion lies in giving a new perspective on the political space as highly hierarchical. The political space is regulated from the top, which suggests the presence of specific rules of the game therein. Such rules establish the resource disposition of the political actors. The government becomes detached from society more and more. Political space in Russia has its clear “top” and “bottom”. The formation of “top” and “bottom” has historical and cultural grounds, which are used by the government to justify their supreme position. Legitimation of power suggest approval of the already existing hierarchy of power. The scientific novelty lies in viewing the political process in modern Russia through the prism of “top” and “bottom”, which are in the irreconcilable conflict.

Keywords: political process, political space, Russian culture, Russia, legitimation, disposition, power, USSR, stratification, nomenclature

Abstract: This research is dedicated to examination of the role of social networks in electoral process of modern Russia. The author also reviews the factors that substantiate the effectiveness of using social networks in electoral campaigns. A conclusion is made that the activity in social networks does not have a strong effect on the voting results. Partially, it is due to the deficit of qualified specialists in the area of political advertising in social networks; or an improper choice of promotion platform. Among the main unsolved problems are the following: low users’ trust in the traditional political parties and their representatives; high level of fragmentation of Internet community; and comparatively weak connection between its separate segments. It seems important for the political party or a separate politician to structure their activity in accordance with the challenges of surrounding reality, skilfully form and promote their image using the existing opportunities of relevant technologies, especially information, which reflection is the Internet and the system of its interactive services.

Keywords: presidential elections, contemporary Russia, electoral process, election campaign, elections, social networks, State Duma, political parties, politician, civil society

Abstract: The subject of this research is the innovatization of the United States foreign policy instruments under the conditions of transformation of the multipolar world and solutions for increasing the level of influence and control of the country over other regions. The goal of this work consists in determination of peculiarities of the control tools, integration of the new instruments of increasing influence of the United States in the world by means of socioeconomic pressure upon certain territories, as well as integration of the principles of US development into the programs of socioeconomic balancing of other countries. The publication also demonstrates the generalized view upon the phenomenon of smart power. Results of the work imply the formation of the perception of proliferation of the “soft power” strategy, its terminological and project content, as well as possibilities to counteract this strategy by both, separate countries, as well as block communities. The author analyzes the place of the Russian Federation in creation of “soft power” strategy and transformation of the role after collapse of USSR and amendments to administrative policy of the United States due to changes in Russia’s geopolitical situation after 1991. The possible ways of for stratification of the situation are defined. Practical conclusion of the work consists in discovering the ways for overcoming the influence through “soft power” strategy for not only the United States, but Russia as well. The author suggest a discussion that  Russia manifests either as an aspect of influence in such strategy, or the key opponent of the United States in implementation of the strategy pursuing own benefits.

Keywords: Geopolitics, Foreign policy, Power, Global leadership, United States, Joseph S. Nye, Jr, Smart power approach, Concept of smart power, Soft power, Hard power

Abstract:   The object of this research is the government decision-making, while the subject is the formation of agenda within the framework of the process of government decision-making in Russia. Special attention is given to the theoretical analysis of structuring the agenda in the works of modern foreign and Russian scholars in the field of psychology, management, sociology, and political science. The author meticulously describes the process of formation of agenda in the context of reformation of the Russian pension system of 2013, highlighting the internal and external factors of influence upon it. The scientific novelty consists in the analysis of formation of agenda on the socioeconomic problem (pension reform) in terms of the approach and method of political science. The main conclusion lies in the thesis that the formation of agenda on the new reform of pension system was caused not by the interests and demands of citizens, but rather the potential risks of impact of the unfavorable economic climate in the key for Russian investor countries, which could affect the decline in the national economy and deficit of the Pension Fund that along with the demographic factors would aggravate the pressure on federal budget, as well the electoral cycles and political protest that manifest as an accelerator for resolution of the short-term issues.  

Keywords: political agenda, Pension reform, Political decisions, Management decision, Agenda, government decision-making, government decisions, strategy, budget deficit, systemic crisis

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the examination of framework of domestic policy of the Russian Federation in a particular administrative formation – North Caucasian Federal District, and primarily the strategic goals and tasks resolved by the federal center in the region at present stage. The tool for resolution of these tasks lies in the plan of unification of the North Caucasian subjects in the context of new formation – North Caucasian Federal District, with establishment of specific architecture of administration, vertical and horizontal connections. It is underlined that such administrative decision is adjusted to the certain conditions, specificity, and peculiarities of North Caucasus, considering the polycultural, polyconfessional, ethnic diversity of the region, as well as presence of various forms of the subjects – national republics, and exceptionally territorial subject Stavropol Krai. The author notes that evolution in relationship between the federal center and regional authorities of North Caucasian Federal District had two main sources. On one hand, the activity of competent representatives of the President in the district, the most ambitious of whom was Dmitry Kozak. On the other hand – revision of the approach towards solution of the problems of North Caucasus at federal level that resulted in creation of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs in 2014. It responsibilities included the formulation of the projects of government programs on development of North Caucasus, coordination of the work aimed at implementation of these programs in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Keywords: security, state, interests, political regime, Muslims, global insecurity, Caucasus, Russia, political system, risks

Abstract: At present stage, crowdsourcing has turned into a powerful factor of influence upon the political, social and economic spheres of development of various countries of the world, as well as political process of the states. From this perspective, crowdsourcing, as a mechanism of information and communication technologies, should be in the field of academic research. Therefore, in the author’s opinion, the relevant topic for examination is considered the technology of political crowdsourcing as one of the efficient means of establishment and transformation of the political discourse. The article is first to provide the classification of types of such phenomenon. The scientific novelty consists in the thesis that in modern world increases the trend of acquiring services using Internet technologies. Thus, the attention is turned to the aspect of implementation of political crowdsourcing within the Russian political sphere. Based on the comparative analysis of international experience, the author gives recommendations on the improvement of platform of the Russian public initiative.

Keywords: political process, e-petition, RUI, policy, Information and Communication Technologies, political crowdsourcing, internet technology, government, parliament, types of crowdsourcing

Abstract: The object of this research is the popular in modern political and economic science phenomenon of public-private partnership. The author suggests a more extensive approach towards the interpretation of this notion, which encompasses the forms of interaction, as well as specificity of the institutional practices and conditions for realization of such cooperation. As a result of examination and analysis of the key theses of theoretical constructors S. G. Kirdina and D. Acemoğlu dedicated to the specificity of formation of institutional design, the conclusion is made about the “inclusive” character of the institution of public-private partnership in the European countries and the United States that acts as a “conductor” of the liberal political and economic values. Due to the fact that the phenomenon of public-private partnership carries interdisciplinary character, the author proposes using the systemic approach, which interprets the public-private partnership from the perspective of the system of relations between the state and private sector; institutional approach for determination of the conditions for establishment and functioning of the public-private partnership; as well as structural-functional method, the goal of application of which consists in consideration of the functions of government institutions and private sector in the context of such partnership. The attention is focused on the necessity of implementation of the “inclusive” political-economic institutions, which are an accelerator for expanding the area of application of such type of partnership and encourage the broadening of the horizon of planning in the spheres of government regulation.  

Keywords: sustainable development strategy, business structure, intersectoral cooperation, inclusive political institutions, innovation economy, theory of institutional matrices, theory of national inequality, public-private partnership, institutional system, political actors

Abstract: The subject of this article is the transformations of discursive practices in Adygea during the period from the establishment of the Republic until 2014. The authors refer to the institutional transformations, which served as a trigger to actualization of ethnocentric discourses, as well as the political crises. Special attention is given to the analysis of discourses used by the political actors during the conflict emerged around the status of Adygea in the 2004-2005. It is substantiated by the fact that this political conflict led to the key transformation of the existing at that precise moment discursive practices, which in turn, significantly affected the future events. Particular attention is also turned to the discourse of the Adygean activists, as well as the supporters of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai union. The scientific novelty of this article consists in examination of the political crises of regional level from the perspective of contraposition of the discourses articulated by the political actors. The authors make a conclusion on the presences of two political groups of activists, which use various discourses, from economic to nationalistic, as well as attempt to establish the hegemony regarding such notions as “historical justice”, “democracy”, etc. It is an important fact that the established in 2005 discursive practices directly affected the future conflicts, including the conflict occurred around hosting the Olympic Games of 2014 in Sochi.

Keywords: conflict, public discussion, Republic of Adygea, North Caucasus, political transformation, political movements, politics, discourse analysis, mass media, discursive practices

Abstract: The subject of this research is the analysis of the work of the European “brains trust” necessary for the preliminary assessment of the relevance of the expert-analytical activity in the European political space, as well as an aptitude for generating ideas and provision of the required information on the pertinent issues of the European Union. The article examines the EU political system, as well as formal and informal political processes, within the framework of which the political entrepreneurs attempt to influence the EU policy. In addition to that, the authors conduct identification of the types and levels of the think tanks activity of the European Union, specificities of their work in particular “areas of effect”.  Considering the set tasks, this work uses the traditional for humanitarian disciplines methods of comparative analysis, case studies, theory of political decision-making, etc. The conducted analysis allowed acquiring an idea about the trends of development and work of the think tanks oriented at the European Union. Taking into account the high level of competition within the political environment of the European Union, we can suggest that in the midterm perspective only the large, well-structured, and finances think tanks will be able to continue their existence. One of the most noticeable trends of modernity consists in the expansion of research dedicated to the European Union in the programs of the national think tanks, which reflects the growing influence of the EU policy.

Keywords: decision-making process, political planning, European Union, political technologies, political process, political expertise, analytical institutes, political forecast, political analysis, political elite

Abstract: This article explores the causes of the formation of various types of opposition and prospects for development of systemic and non-systemic opposition in modern Russia with variants of development of political situation in the country. The author gives characterization and highlights the differences between each type of opposition, as well as substantiates the character and mechanism of its interaction with the current authority. The work points out the main representatives of the systemic and non-systemic opposition in modern Russia and possible versions of development of opposition depending on the development of the economic situation in the country, including the versions of development of systemic and non-systemic opposition in the conditions of stable and crisis development. The novelty of this research consists in the substantiation of the possibility of minimization of risks of political radicalization of both, the systemic, as well as non-systemic opposition under either version of development of the political process in modern Russian Federation. The author concludes that with constant monitoring of the state of the oppositional political actors using the criteria for the level of political activeness it is possible to determine the situations that directly precede radicalization of the political activity of the opposition.

Keywords: political competition, political system, systemic opposition, opposition, non-systemic opposition, leader, elections, politician, psychology, characteristics.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the examination of interests of the United States in the Ukrainian crisis of 2013-2014, in instigation of which they were directly involved. The object of this research is the Ukrainian crisis of 2013-2014 dubbed as “Euromaidan”, which resulted in the forceful toppling of Yanukovych’s regime, as well as seizure the power by the pro-American and pro-Western oppositionists who has the support of the local nationalists and extremists. The subject of this research is the role of the United States in the Ukrainian crisis, their interests, main advantages and benefits gained from participation in this conflict. The author notes that at the end of February of 2014, during the so-called “Euromaidan” and with support of the United States, took place the government overthrow that became a culmination of the new color revolution in Ukraine. As a result, the pro-Western and anti-Russian in its essence powers, supported by the United State and European Union, came to power. Ukraine is not the first country bordering Russia that had experience the government coup, but it is one of the largest and most important countries from geopolitical perspective. Due to the victory of the color revolution, an aggressively oriented unfriendly regime has emerged on the Russian-Ukrainian border, which became a direct challenge for Russia and a threat to its national security. This is namely why Russia must develop an effective strategy for struggle against the color revolutions – a major threat to security and stability of the modern nations, a so-called “color plague” of the XXI century.

Keywords: security, interests, state, political regime, international relations, world politics, U.S. foreign policy, global information space, political system, risks

Abstract:  The article is devoted to the research of constitutional and legal regulation of process of formation of the Russian Government, the main problems arising in legal regulation during appointment of the Russian Chairman of the Government and his further actions for formation of the entire government. In his article Chepus analyzes historical milestones of formation of the government in work. Special attention is paid to the current state of this process, relationship between the parliament and the President of the country in this sphere. The researcher also considers the status and the legal position of so-called "ministers without portfolio". Special attention is paid to the analysis of standards of regulations of Federal Assembly of Russia as well as to the decisions and practice of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. In this connection the author comes to the conclusion that selection of a candidate for the Russian Chairman of the Government presented to the State Duma for approval (disapproval) is an unfettered right of the Russian President allowing the head of state to define concrete options of the execution of his right. In his research Chepus has used the following methods: systems approach, comparative method, legalistic and logical methods, doctrinal interpretation, analogy of the law and right. At the end of the article the researcher makes short conclusions based on the carried-out analysis of the material and offers a thesis that a special constitutional legal status of the executive authority in Russia and the process of formation of the Government of the Russian Federation happen under the political influence of the President. 

Keywords: ministers, Constitution, Parliament, President, institute of formation of the Government, Parliamentary responsibility, the Chairman of the Government, parliamentary control, parliamentary system, law

Abstract: This article reveals the main consistent traits of election process, which define the native and foreign electoral practice, analyzes and elaborates their substance. The author formulates the definitions and explores the substance of absenteesm, pluralism, political market, Gerrymandering and others, from the viewpoint of electoral practice. The author assesses the gnoseological significance of the abovementioned patterns, and makes an attempt at their systematization.

Keywords: Political science, election process, electoral campaigns, elections, parties, political market, gerrymandering, political competition, pluralism, absenteesm

Abstract: The current agricultural policy of the state is largely declarative-only. It is based on outdated empirical constructs which prevent its successful realization. The article offers new principles for implementing the modern agricultural policies in Russia, which would ensure a positive dynamic in the agricultural sector of the economy. Such principles include: competency, realistic possibility of implementation, implementation control, degree of possible control.

Keywords: political science, agricultural, production, state, regulation, policy, competency, principles, implementation