The article analyses the stages of information confrontation in social networks aimed at transforming protest activity from a virtual space into real life in the form of street actions and practical actions to change the current socio-political situation. The author considers one of the critical threats of social media to the socio-political stability of society the attempts of using them to influence changes in the collective psychology, motivation and behaviour of citizens. The author gives examples of the IT industry and government agencies of the United States, whose cooperation provides the United States with unprecedented opportunities to influence the global information space and analyses the experience and methodology of political mobilisation of the masses in social networks during the events of the Facebook revolution in Egypt 2010–2011. Based on the understanding of the real experience, the author identifies the stages and methods of reformatting virtual protest activity in the real one, as well as identifies the biographical features of the leaders of online protest movements and proposes measures to counteract the information threats of social media. According to the author, one of the most effective mechanisms to counter the threats of social media is the implementation of a comprehensive state identity policy focused on maintaining and developing the existing pivot points of the consensus collective national identity of the society.

This article deals with the problems of one of the most urgent threats in the world today — the problem of terrorism, and its essential and cross-border form — cyberterrorism. It is of growing interest in the analysis of information and communication technologies used in the implementation of terrorist activities and directly for acts of cyberterrorism. We present several relevant examples and practical cases of the use of information and communication technologies by terrorists. The authors concluded that it is necessary to jointly search for solutions to combat the terrorist threat from terrorist organisations within the international community.

The article discusses the issues related to the international reaction to the death of the Russian auditor Sergei Magnitsky and the subsequent actions of the countries concerned. The author paid particular attention to the changing image of Russia and the perception of the Russian reality in the media space of foreign countries. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the Magnitsky affair within the framework of the concept of information warfare. It should be realised through the study of the most significant circumstances that influenced the coverage of the investigation and comparison of considered events with other resonant “cases” that are also commonly referred to as manifestations of the information war. The Magnitsky affair, which was on agenda parallel with the period of warming in relations between Russia and the United States, referred to as the ‘reset’, turned out to be an indicator of the existence of fundamental contradictions between the countries of the West and the Russian Federation. At the same time, mass media, both Russian and of other countries, were divided into two groups, covering mainly one of the components of the events in question: human rights and corruption in Russia or foreign origins of business structures related to Magnitsky. The nature of restrictive mutual measures, known as the “Magnitsky Law” and “Dima Yakovlev Law”, emphasised that the contradictions between the parties have not only a political, but also a deeper ideological aspect. The Magnitsky affair allowed assessing the potential of relations between Russia and foreign states, the ability of partners to compromise and to adequately approach problems in interstate relations. The study identifies patterns that led to an increase in international tension, based on the events of a decade ago, which seem to be of considerable interest in understanding the current situation in the world.

The article reviews the printed mass media market of the USA, Great Britain, and Russia in the era of digitalisation. We consider prospects of development of this segment and also present the analysis of the market of the printing press of each country mentioned above. The authors provide statistics reflected the crisis of the printed mass media market in the USA and Russia, as well as its weak growth in the UK. Further, we carry out the content analysis of information on the development of the printed mass media market, present various points of view on this issue, and outline the prospects of print media in the future. The article also touches upon the causes of the decline of the printed mass media market in each of the concerned countries, provides recommendations for the restoration of the printed mass media market in Russia.

The article is devoted to the study of the potential of informal instruments of “soft power” in modern Russia. It examines such concepts as instruments of “soft power”, identity, culture and cultural codes, fashion, foreign policy influence. Today, the key objectives of Russian policy are to create and strengthen the national identity and expand the spheres of “soft” foreign policy influence, the formation of loyalty and sympathy of the world community to Russia. The active presence of Russian cultural codes in the world of contemporary art, fashion and other areas of culture opens up new opportunities for the development of the Russian policy of “soft power”. The article discusses the prospects of Russian foreign policy influence and the formation of Russian identity through mass culture and fashion on the example of the origin of the Cyrillic trend in the world fashion industry today, as well as the potential impact of informal instruments of “soft power”.

The article presents the results of sociological research of socio-economic risks of carsharing customers in the Moscow megalopolis. Carsharing is considered as one of the new types of sharing economy stimulated our days both by information technologies development and postmodern values of people. Currently carsharing is progressing rapidly in the Russian capital that makes relevant its various aspects of the investigation. There is a real contradiction when, on the one hand, various paid services, including carsharing, are extending and on the other hand corresponding risks for people are growing too. The main goal of the research is discovering of socio-economic risks of Moscow carsharing customers both real and potential. The primary method of empirical sociological of carried out in April-May, 2019 is in-depth interviews with actual and potential customers of Moscow carsharing companies. The study reveals that both actual and potential carsharing customers have some fears related to technical and sanitary conditions of a rented car, traffic accidents, insurance, billing etc. At the same time, we found out that the shared usage of a car itself actual the customers more responsible. It studies that development of carsharing in Moscow is constrained mainly by subjective factors related to the mentality of Russians (fears, phobias) and by such factors as sufficiently low level of trust both to people and social institutions. Obtained results are correlated to the statements made by other researchers and let to map out directions of further study of this field.

Modern educational institutions face serious problems related to the motivation and involvement of students. Gamification or inclusion of game elements in non-game settings allows educational institutions to solve these complex problems. However, if gamification should be useful fo r higher education, we must analyse in more details what gamification is, how it functions and why it can be helpful. This article addresses three key questions, what, how, and why bother, in the study of both potential benefits and pitfalls of gamification.

“Citizenship” is a legal term. Citizenship means a person’s belonging to any state and implies the presence of mutual obligations of a person and a state. Citizenship is a separate institution of law. The modern form of citizenship is different from those that we re before. So it was precise because of the experience present, thanks to the evolution of citizenship. In this article, the formation and development of citizenship will be considered on the example of the revolutionary citizenship of France and America.

The Globalisation process and its achievements have exacerbated migration problems, creating a demographic crisis in the European Union and the Russian Federation. The authors of the article from the position of social philosophy and sociology examine the impact of the increasing migration flow from the problem regions of Asia and Africa to the more prosperous countries of Europe on the concepts of national and ethnic identity and tolerance, as well as on social capital and public trust in political leadership. The article draws attention to the borderline nature of the movement of identarism formed in the countries of Scandinavia, Western and Eastern Europe, with right-wing and extreme nationalist movements.

The article looks at the biography of Bernard Baruch (1870–1965), an American financier, stock investor, philanthropist, statesman, and political consultant. Firstly the question about the genealogy of the Bernard Baruch is studied. Bernard Baruch had a lot of famous persons among their ancestors. The information contained in the article shows the close business and relative connections between Baruch family and financial families of the USA and Europe.

This article assesses the current structure of public-private partnership in the Russian Federation. The author gave characteristics of problems faced by the commercial sector in the implementation of projects profitable for the enterprise. The author discussed the ways to address the issue of corruption in this type of relationship as well as. Based on the analysis, the author concluded that corruption activity inhibits the formation of constructive and trusting social ties, as a result of which the criminal situation worsens and the national economy becomes less competitive.

The article analyses the level of food security of the Russian Federation as a determinant of political risk in the agricultural sector of the country. The author presents calculations of indicators of ensuring food independence of the Russian Federation on priority types of food products; assesses the level of import dependence of the agricultural sector; regards the dynamics of personal food consumption in the country. The author notes that at present, the domestic agricultural complex operates in conditions of constant economic and geopolitical transformations. It directly affects the emergence and growth of political risk in this sector of the economy. Sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries since 2014 predetermined the direction of development of the agricultural sector of the Russian Federation and revealed the need for thinking long-term and systemic solutions from the state in the field of import substitution and improving the quality of life of the Russian population.

Due to the rapid development of digital technology, the structure of future jobs is becoming increasingly complex, and university graduates need to acquire the right combination of skills to succeed in a rapidly changing world. The need for continuous replenishment and updating of professional knowledge is determined by the pace of scientific and technological progress, the transition to the information stage of the development of society, and the widespread use of innovative technologies. There are prerequisites for the formation and development of the category of “strategic outsourcing”. Unlike the services of the service, which have a one-time, episodic nature, strategic outsourcing is usually transferred to the functions of professional support for the uninterrupted operation of individual systems and infrastructure based on a long-term contract. Strategic outsourcing allows not only to restructure business processes radically but also significantly improve opportunities and prospects. The purpose of this study is to study the concept of outsourcing in entrepreneurial training and the development of human capital.

This article discusses the ongoing controversy in the scientific and political community concerning the legality of Russia’s actions on the rejoining of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. The author considers the main points of view on the legality of Russia’s actions. At the same time, special attention is paid to the interaction of legal and political aspects that determine the legitimacy of the events analysed in the article. The results of the study showed that further work with the international community to recognise the Crimea as Russian territory should use a broader context of legitimisation (historical, legal, political, socio-cultural, linguistic), and not only rational and legitimate.

The author focuses on one of the most resonant events of the last electoral cycle: the election of deputies of the Moscow city Duma, their Federal and purely local features using comparative and system methods. The author in most cases relied on open sources, widely attracting media materials. The article states the image damage suffered by “United Russia” in the capital, whose representatives were nominated as independent candidates. At the same time, reputational costs, taking into account the results of elections in other regions, paradoxically contribute to the fact that the project of “United Russia”, as the party in power, will continue.

From a praxeological standpoint, history is an experience of the past transferred to the present for the search for landmarks in reality. However, the historical consciousness of modern youth, which is forming under the conditions of network reality, is quite contradictory, which increases the political risk of involving this social group in protest activity. Young people are characterised by a fragmented worldview, an uncritical attitude to information coming from social networks, and the use of consumer behaviour standards in social relations. All these trends in the context of the spread of the ideology of neoliberalism lead to the undermining of collective identity. A particular object of influence is historical consciousness, which is a part of national identity. The strategic objectives of the Russian state are to maintain historical communication, including through memorials, to preserve historical identity as part of national sovereignty. The solution to these problems cannot be ensured by the efforts of the state alone; it is necessary to involve all the leading social institutions — agents of socialisation. Overcoming the contradictions in the formation of the historical consciousness of Russian youth involves the transmission of the value of patriotism through the institution of a traditional family.

The article establishes the relationship between the interests of the Ukrainian establishment and the foreign policy vector of Kyiv. The author identified the main actors who determined the specifics of the transformation of the strategic course of Ukraine. On the one hand, the author revealed the critical problems of European integration and on the other hand, the improvement/ degradation of relations with the Russian Federation. The author evaluated the strategic doctrines used by the Ukrainian elite and analysed main changes in the approaches of the Ukrainian establishment. This article considers the reaction of Russian and Ukrainian political elites to the correction of the foreign policy imperatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, respectively. Also, the author, using the theory of the “heavy” and “light” fractions of Ukrainian political elites as an example, identifies specific features of the correlation between the replacement/renewal of key elite groups and the adaptation of the strategic vector, including a qualitative rethinking of the approaches inherent in the replaced establishment. On the other hand, the author compared between the declared positions/slogans and specific doctrines/concepts, initiated, for example, by individual actors of the political elite. The author analyses the main reasons for the soft dismantling of the so-called multi-vector diplomacy in favour of the Euro-Atlantic course. Also, in the article, concerning the realities of Ukraine, the influence of the political model of “shapeless pluralism” of hybrid regimes on the transformation of the foreign policy’ agenda.

The article discusses the urgent problem of attracting international students to Russian universities as well as their readiness to attract a new type of student. The work considers aspects of useful international experience of the issue: today when education has become one of the main priorities in countries with developing economies, many of them seek to establish partnerships with leading world universities. The authors made recommendations for adjusting the current situation in the Russian Federation, where the most intensive flow of international students comes from the former USSR republics studying at the expense of budgetary funds. At the same time, the choice for international students is limited to universities of the country’s largest cities — Moscow and St. Petersburg, and this requires a change. Also considered is the growth factor of the position of Russian universities in international rankings, high positions in which play a significant role in enhancing the flow of international students into the country.

The article presents the data of the study of the dynamics of social and political attitudes and the analysis of the results of the regional elections of 2015–2019 in the Irkutsk region. In 2019, a sociological study was conducted in this region, which allowed determining the reasons for the formation of protest social and political sentiments. For the analysis, the author used the results of elections of the Governor of Irkutsk region in 2015 and results of elections of deputies of Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk region in 2018. Further, the author compared also votes to the Duma of the city of Irkutsk in 2019. The study identified features of the formation of the protest political attitude of residents of Irkutsk oblast and the trends of their impact on the election results at the regional level (protest voting). Finally, the author explained the reasons of the defeat of the last Governor Sergei Eroschenko and the victory of S. Levchenko, causes of deterioration of the results of the party “United Russia” and the victory of the Communist Party in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk region in 2018.

The article considers approaches to the definition of political risk by foreign and Russian authors. The author notes that some of the existing definitions saturate the concept with unnecessary conventions, without which the political risk does not cease to be such. The author proposes an essential definition of political risk. The article also notes that the essence of political risk is revealed only through said risk’s analysis. In this regard, the article considers several of proposed methods of analysis of political risk, their strengths and weaknesses. The author concludes that a large number of definitions and approaches to measuring political risk indicates the continuing development of this area, which reflects its relevance.