Abstract: This scientific article is devoted to the role of the Chinese language in the cultural diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China. The relevance of the research topic is due to: first, the growth of the influence of the People’s Republic of China on the international arena; secondly, the acceleration of the process of transformation of the international situation, consisting in «power transition» from the USA to China; third, strengthening relations between the PRC and the countries of the collective "non-West". The object of this study is the cultural diplomacy of the PRC. The study focuses on the Chinese language as an instrument of Chinese cultural diplomacy. The aim of the study is to determine the role of the Chinese language in the cultural diplomacy of China. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to study the process of implementing the cultural diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China in the context of «power transition», to define the role of the Chinese language in the cultural diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China in the context of «One Belt One Road». This study is based on the theory of neoliberalism, which implies the primacy of international political, economic and cultural cooperation as a factor restraining potential hostilities. The main conclusions of the study are the characteristic of cultural diplomacy as an integral part of inter-state relations, identification of the key tools for the implementation of Chinese cultural diplomacy at the present stage in the form of a symbiosis of the initiative «One Belt One Road» and the activities of the Confucius Institutes, characterization of the PRC as the key and only rival of the United States of America on the international arena in the context of the theory of «power transition».

Keywords: Deng Xiaoping, Power transition, OBOR, Chinese, Soft power, USA, Cultural diplomacy, PRC, China, Cold War

Abstract: The article is devoted to the identification and characterization of the main tools and mechanisms for the implementation of Chinese cultural diplomacy in relation to the Russian Federation. The author proceeds from the fact that in the context of the new international situation and a new stage in the development of Sino-Russian relations, the maintenance and intensification of cultural exchanges between the two countries plays an important role. The article emphasizes that the means by which China conducts cultural diplomacy in Russia differ in ways and mechanisms depending on the sphere. It is shown that China's cultural diplomacy in Russia has achieved more significant results mainly in the field of education, literature, artistic cooperation and exchange between the media. Strategic, fateful decisions taken by the top political leadership of the two countries aimed at uniting the two states should be understood and accepted by the population of these countries, which is impossible without a deep mutual understanding of cultural heritage and cultural features. In the article, the author gives numerous examples demonstrating the variety of tools and mechanisms used by Beijing to implement cultural diplomacy in relation to Russia. The author concludes that China uses cultural diplomacy as a means of spreading its culture in Russia, effectively presenting the image of modern China. Cooperation between China and Russia in the field of culture is of great strategic importance for the development of relations between the two countries.

Keywords: MASS MEDIA, cultural relations, educational cooperation, cultural exchanges, Russia, China, cultural diplomacy, Sino-Russian relations, literature, external policy

Abstract: The importance of the Middle East for China has recently increased, since it not only contains the energy sources necessary for China's growth, but also represents an arena of rivalry with great powers, primarily with the United States. The author considers China's presence in the Middle East as a strategically justified necessity in the context of confrontation with the United States of America. In light of Washington's "encirclement strategy" in East Asia, Beijing's behavior in the Middle East is largely influenced by it. It is emphasized that China is not ready and does not seek to play the role of a guarantor of security or replace the United States in the Middle East in this area in the foreseeable future, however, security issues at both national and regional levels are becoming increasingly relevant. China's strategic priorities and the main directions of its political presence aimed at balancing threats and opportunities in such a turbulent region have been identified. The study concludes that the future of China's presence in the Middle East is determined by China's global strategy, where internal and external factors have a significant impact on Beijing's position and role at the regional and international levels in such a rapidly and unexpectedly changing world.

Keywords: confrontation, Washington, Beijing, rivalry, strategy, political pragmatism, USA, North Africa, Middle East, China

Abstract: This article analyzes the process of establishment and development of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic. The author provides certain definitions of the term public diplomacy, as well as discusses the formation of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic and its concept after declaring independence. Analysis is conducted on the development and implementation of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic abroad at the present stage. The article consists of the three sections: the first explores the general concept of public diplomacy; the second analyzes the establishment and development of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic; the third demonstrates the implementation of public diplomacy in the Slovak Republic in the current context. The problem of public diplomacy is currently relevant and subject to extensive analysis. With the course of time, public diplomacy has been playing a significant role in foreign policy of the Slovak Republic, and thus, a crucial factor in its international life. The author’s special contribution consists in examination of the materials of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Methodological framework is comprised of systemic approach, as well as general and private scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, and historical method. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the comprehensive approach towards the analysis of public diplomacy in the Slovak Republic and its evolution.

Keywords: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, foreign policy, international relations, state, Slovak Republic, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, soft power, national branding

Abstract: The subject of the research is the analysis of the humanitarian aspect of the Great Britain's foreign policy. The aim of the research is to define conceptual grounds, instruments and conctents of the humanitarian activity performed by the United Kingdom outside its borders. The main research methods include logical terminology and systemic-functional analysis. Using the logical terminology analysis method, the author has defined conceptual framework of the humanitarian aspect of the Great Britain's foreign policy. Using the systemic-functional approach, the author has studied different activities of the Foreign office. Response to extreme situations abroad is defined as the core element of British humanitarian activity. At the same time, the author offers a wider interpretation of that activity as the project of 'soft power' of the United Kingdom in the modern world. The author analyzes 'soft power' strategies of Britain which humanitarian orientation is mostly apparent. This is the policy to expand educational opportunities and promote development of civil society in different countries and regions of the world. The author also analyses what Britain political elite thinks of possible employment of military force based for humanitarian purposes and how the concept of 'Responsibility to Protect' is viewed by the Britain political class. The scientific novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the author evaluates the influence of Brexit on the change of humanitarian contents and values in the Great Britain's foreign policy. The main result of the research is the author's conclusion about negative consequences of Brexit. The author predicts the decline of humanitarian responsibility and role of the United Kingdom in the  modern world. The results of the research can be used in the sphere of education. The research is closed up with the conclusion that there is a great number of factors that influence how states define their own 'humanitarian role' on the global stage. 

Keywords: Syria, complex emergency, development aid, humanitarian aid, Responsibility to Protect, soft power, humanitarian diplomacy, United Kingdom, Foreign Office, Brexit

Abstract: The article considers Russia’s participation in the Genoa Conference in 1922 that was some sort of result of five-years’ activity of the Soviet Diplomacy. The research object is the fierce debate about the economic policy of the Bolsheviks, who had initiated a “socialist” experiment in the country, which was getting out from wars and revolutions. The main attention is given to the problem of debt obligations of the czarist and the interim governments, which had been abrogated by the Soviet power. The authors demonstrate how Soviet diplomats defended Russia’s position on this issue in a fierce debate. The authors study the set of historical and legal facts and evaluate them on the basis of the achievements of Russian and foreign historiography. The authors come to positive conclusions about the achievements and losses of Soviet diplomacy in the struggle for the recognition of new Russia by capitalist countries and for the establishment of trade and diplomatic relations with them. The authors estimate the separate treaty with Germany, which helped break diplomatic isolation of Russia. 

Keywords: international consortium, discussion in Genoa, powers' claims, abrogation, debts of former governments, Soviet government, Bolsheviks, the Russian revolution, position of the Allies, Russia's position

Abstract: The research object is the contents and the organization of public diplomacy in the process of foreign (public) policy implementation. Special attention is given to the views of different political scientists on the contents of the public policy concept, its main directions and mechanisms. The author outlines the interconnected elements of public diplomacy as an integral system: maximum transparency and attractiveness of foreign policy in the cultural aspect and reliable informing of citizens about it; direct contacts of the state with the social structures of other states for the optimization of goals and tasks of its foreign policy on the base of observance of international legal norms and principles; support of non-governmental organizations of the country for the purpose of their cooperation with the societies of other countries; contacts between various communities of countries for the purpose of studying other countries’ policies. Theoretical provisions are proved by the reliable examples characterizing public diplomacy implementation in the foreign policies of different states (China, Germany, Russia). The study demonstrates the role of social and humanitarian knowledge and the educational system in the process of development of institutional basis of the public diplomacy system. The study is based on the institutional method, which helps detect and characterize the peculiarities, principles, goals, and functions of public diplomacy in the process of foreign policy implementation. This study is one of the first crucial attempts to analyze public diplomacy as a system of institutional elements and to define the role of cultural factors in public policy processes. The author supposes that public diplomacy and public policy are interconnected through the constant dialogue between the government and the subjects of the civil society. 

Keywords: diplomacy, power, non-governmental organizations , communication media, cultural policy, morality, soft power, soft power, public diplomacy, public policy

Abstract: The article considers the remarks of the UN Human Rights Committee on the report of the Russian Federation about the fulfillment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee noted the positive changes which had taken place in the country since the previous report and formulated the remarks and recommendations to the Russian Federation. Special attention in the paper is paid to the legal position of the Committee about the efficiency of Russian control over the territory of the self-proclaimed republics of Eastern Ukraine and to the conclusion about the necessity of the efficient realization of the Committee’s considerations in Russia. The study is based on the analysis of the legal provisions of the Human Rights Committee and the foreign literature devoted to the legal status of its provisions. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that this is the first translation and analysis of the remarks of the Committee on the report of the Russian Federation adopted on March 31, 2015. The author enumerates pluses and minuses of the remarks. 

Keywords: discrimination, freedom of association, independence of judiciary, freedom of expression, international covenant, report, human rights committee, UNO, racism, status of conclusions

Abstract: The article considers some urgent aspects of France’s cultural diplomacy as an attribute of “soft power”; it outlines the traditionally special place of cultural policy in the strategy of preservation and strengthening of France’s global influence in the conditions of a hidden resistance to the lingua-cultural influence of the USA and their claims on the intellectual leadership in the modern world. Soft power has always played an important role in France’s foreign policy. As globalization is expanding, the problem of preservation and strengthening of their cultural identity and civilizational diversity is becoming more important for the countries with developed culture. In this regard France, a country with a great cultural influence, is an example of a country which, due to the committed and well-thought state policy, has been successfully defending its “cultural uniqueness” for centuries.

Keywords: international relations, foreign policy, France, Soft power, diplomacy, cooperation, state, interests, values, security.

Abstract: The article analyzes one of the key problems of Russia-NATO relations – the problem of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe adaptation. The article briefly touches upon the history of the Treaty, analyzes the reasons of its crisis and the appearance of the need to adapt the Treaty to the modern geopolitical conditions. Studying the imbalances in correlation of armed forces of NATO and Russia in Europe and the examples of the US and NATO aggressive policy near to the Russian borders, the author reveals the reasons of abeyance of the Treaty action by Russia, and speaks about the perspectives of the renewal of cooperation between Russia and NATO in these sphere. The methodological base of the research contains the following methods: system, structural functional, comparative historical, comparative political, geopolitical and cultural civilizational, and the methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, modeling and observation. The author comes to the conclusion that the overcoming of crisis of relations between NATO member-states and Russia has real perspectives, but it should be based on equal rights, international law, and intergovernmental agreements.

Keywords: international relations, foreign policy, international conflict, the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, Russia, NATO, interests, values, security, diplomacy.

Abstract: This article touches upon a number of problematic aspects related to India’s energy dependency and the inter-state interaction between the countries of the South Asian region. Two pipeline projects are discussed: Iran-Pakistan-India and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India as well as the difficulties associated with their implementation, both of economic and political nature. The author pays special attention to the impact on the construction of the above pipelines made by the two largest players in the modern system of international relations – China and the USA. The chronological method is used for identifying the specific features of changes to Indian foreign and domestic policy aimed at procuring both its own energy security. Situation analysis makes it possible to recreate certain events in the development of the regional security problem and the attempts at settling the conflicts based on documentary sources and periodicals. Systematic method is the approach to considering the problem as a complex dynamic, comprehensive and integral phenomenon on the basis of the analysis of the interdependence of all the elements both individually and in their combination. Comparative method allows tracing the specific features of relationships between the countries of this region and their partner countries and the countries which are potential threats to their safety in general. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the author’s attempt at evaluating the main directions of the developments in the relationships between the countries in the South Asian region from the point of view of India’s energy security. In light of the latest events in the system of international relations and the growing role of energy resources as a valid leverage for influence, the importance of this research is growing. The conclusions made by the author are as follows: 1. The necessity for the Indian political elite to implement a multidirectional approach to the problem of the country’s energy security. 2. The growing role of the USA and China as non-regional players immediately affecting the participants of the IPI and TAPI pipeline projects. 3. The possibility for the positions of Moscow and Beijing as well as of Moscow and New Deli to move closer to each other in the matters related to the future “energy dialogue”. 4. The necessity to take into consideration the growing role of China in South Asia and its ability to block or hinder the implementation of energy projects that India needs.

Keywords: international relations, problems of inter-state interaction, energy security, energy resources, IPI, TAPI, pipeline diplomacy, China, Russia, USA.

Abstract: This article concerns the specific features of the new stage of reconstruction of the Pakistani port Gwadar, in which China participates. In February 2013 Pakistan and China concluded a multi-million contract for the reconstruction of the port and formation of the port infrastructure. It creates a new geo-political situation in the region, in the water area of the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean as a whole, while opening new trade directions and new transit opportunities for the Central Asian states, the Western provinces of China, Iran and the states of the Persian Gulf. On February 18, 2013 Islamabad and Beijing signed the treaty on transfer the operative management of the port Gwadar and development of its infrastructure to the Chinese Overseas Port Holding. Gwadar is the third commercial port of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, together with Quasim and Karachi. According to the treaty the port remains property of Pakistan, but it shall be operated by the Chinese state company. For Pakistan Gwadar shall serve as a future alternative to the Karachi port, which is “the Seagate of the State”. The new port is situated 537 kilometers away from the trade capital of Pakistan.

Keywords: international relations, politics, Pakistan, Gwadar, China, port, interests, values, hydrocarbons, energy policy

Abstract: The modern time gives rise to novel realities. One of topical modern matters is the new public diplomacy, which presupposes more active work with the social opinion, as well as constant dialogue with the foreign targeted audiences. Such a format of communications is impossible without new communication technologies. Russia is now entering the path of modernization of public diplomacy and use of social media. The author views achievements and difficulties, which the Russian diplomacy is facing in this sphere.

Keywords: political science, international relations, foreign policy, national security, image of the state, national branding, public diplomacy, Russia, the MFA, values.

Abstract: This article is devoted to the analysis of the current situation in the sphere of foreign political relations between Russia and the Republic of Peru, their key priorities in the conditions of current modernization of the Russian society. The author analyzes the history of formation and development of the Russian-Peruvian relations, it current situation, threats and challenges to security in the sphere of bilateral relations.

Keywords: Russia, Peru, priorities, modernization, history, bilateral relations, agreements, diplomacy.