Based on the conducted discourse analysis, the article explores the mechanisms of constructing the image of an

“existential other” during a crisis of trust between Russia and the West. It examines foreign, Eastern, and domestic perspectives on the existentialisation of the crisis in relations between the Russian Federation and Western nations. Within this context, key discursive mechanisms have been identified and described. They include fabrication, the creation of narrative worlds, the inclusion of “dark-intentioned contexts” in political, socio-cultural, and economic agendas, as well as a mechanism that directs discourse towards mainstream mythologies. This approach can be applied to studies of the existentialisation of modern-day crises.

The article discusses the issues of misinformation dissemination on social media and its impact on student views. Based on the analysis of current approaches to studying information influence on public opinion, the main trends in shaping the consciousness of the younger generation have been identified. As a result of this study, it has been revealed that higher education institutions are not sufficiently involved in counteracting fake information on the internet and promoting digital literacy among young people. In response to this, the author has developed several practical recommendations. 

This article examines the significance of information security and its place within the national security framework of the

Islamic Republic of Iran. It assesses the main challenges and risks that the country faces in this area. The paper provides a detailed analysis of measures taken by Iran to protect its information environment, including the development of systems to combat cyber threats, creation of tools for cyber-espionage and attacks against critical infrastructure of potential adversaries, as well as content filtering that contradicts Islamic values. Additionally, mechanisms and forms of cooperation with Russia and China are examined. The authors utilize qualitative and quantitative analysis of sources to assess the current state of information security in Iran. The study reveals that the country must actively protect its information sphere given the continuous threats posed by external actors, such as US intelligence agencies and their allies.

The article analyzes the digital support for joint initiatives of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the field of youth and education policy. The study involved the collection of social media content that reflects the online promotion of humanitarian projects by the EAEU during 2023 and early 2024.

The main findings of the analysis relate to the dynamics of publication activities by EAEU member states regarding information support for their joint humanitarian initiatives. This includes changes in user engagement with materials related to youth and educational initiatives, as well as an examination of the communication networks of digital actors within this international organization.

Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed for improving information support for the humanitarian efforts of EAEU members. These measures aim to enhance the visibility and impact of these initiatives through effective digital communication strategies.

Audiovisual content includes various types of photos, videos, and audio recordings, which collectively have a significant influence on consumer perception. In the context of digitization, the pattern of media consumption is evolving, as a result of which content types are repositioning themselves in terms of their significance in influencing public opinion. Throughout the course of this study, it has been observed that global digitization is having an impact on the media landscape, as this industry is intricately linked to innovative processes. Consumer attitudes and preferences are undergoing transformation, and content creators are adapting their methods of conveying key information from source to receiver. Furthermore, it has become evident that visual content within digital environments enhances the impact of messages and is processed more rapidly by individuals compared to textual content.

The article analyzes the factors that influence the process of institutionalization party systems in post-communist Europe. It considers the impact of governance systems on the changing preferences of voters. The author uses the index of electoral volatility as an indicator of stability and predictability in interparty competition.

The author emphasizes that parliamentary systems with a strong political role in post-communist countries create favorable conditions for party system development. However, high levels of electoral volatility indicate that the institutional factor has limited influence on party-group cohesion. The author argues that the instability of party systems is a result of objective factors, such as political culture.

The article explores the conditions and origins of the rise and fall of neoliberal economic doctrine in the United States. Its relevance stems from the conceptual challenges of justifying and implementing the economic policies of the Biden administration in light of the continued influence of neoliberal thinking. Based on a historical and logical analysis of doctrinal principles, it is argued that the use of the term “neoliberalism” to describe a set of neo-conservative and libertarian ideas is inaccurate and contentious. The popularity of neoliberal doctrine in the early 1980s was driven by the crisis in the ideals and practices of progressive liberalism derived from the Keynes-Roosevelt era of the mid-20th century. The article examines the economic memes of liberalism, with a particular focus on the “trickle-down” economic policy approach. Biden’s economic policy, commonly referred to as “Bidenomics,” can be described as a return to the ideals and practices of progressive American liberalism. The tax policies of the Biden administration represent a significant deviation from neoliberal principles, with increased regulatory oversight of the economy and a focus on increased collaboration with trade unions. Additionally, the administration has implemented a full-fledged industrial policy aimed at reindustrializing America, particularly in high-technology sectors. Alternative economic policy — “ trumponomics” — is fundamentally opposed to neoliberalism despite some similarities with  the latter, such as deregulation and tax cuts. However, the industrial policy of the Trump administration, primarily in the form of protectionist measures to safeguard the domestic market for domestic industry, has proven to be more advantageous for medium-sized rather than high-tech companies. The apparent “Trump-Biden consensus” on industrial policy and protectionism, from the perspective of neoliberals, represents a departure from the “free market” ideal, but in reality it confirms the inadequacy of neoliberal policies for addressing the urgent challenges of contemporary economic development in the United States.

The article analyzes foreign approaches to the quantitative study of trust in the economic sphere (Edelman Trust Barometer, World Values Survey, PwC, Google, McKinsey and other). Relevant regularities for trust research are proposed. It is concluded that the transformation of social relations requires a revision of the traditional mechanisms for the formation of trust in the economy. The authors proposed a trust equation based on the approach of D. Maister, C. Green and R. Galford. In this equation, the key indicators-resources for building trust are reputation capital, community of values, transparency of actions, participation in activities of actors. The proposed approach can be used in studies of both institutional and interpersonal trust in the economy.

There is a sharp change in economic and production relations between countries in the modern world, and integration processes are replaced in many cases by isolation, “islandization” and sovereignization. Under these conditions, it seems relevant to analyze the most important indicators of Russian science and consider its future prospects. The dynamics of the number of scientists, the number of journals, the salaries of scientists and money allocated by the government for scientific research were chosen as the main indicators. Having examined these indicators and compared them with the indicators of other countries, the conclusions presented in the article have been drawn. The author hopes that the findings could contribute to the further competent management of Russian science and will ensure the stable development of Russia in new economic and political conditions.

The article discusses the actual issue of increasing danger of international terrorism for global, regional and national security, on the one hand, and insufficient theoretical understanding of this phenomenon, as well as legal support for countering its threats, on the other hand. The article reveals contradictions in the interpretations of signs and definitions of international terrorism; the author’s interpretation is given. The proposals on updating the legal framework and doctrinal and political documents related to the issues of countering international terrorism and terrorism in general are presented. 

The article contains the results of the author’s sociological research concerning the study of the risks and opportunities of using artificial intelligence in the profession of a sociologist. The study was conducted by the method of expert interviews. The paper reveals the degree of permissibility of using artificial intelligence at various stages of sociological research, describes the experience of experts using new technologies in research activities, and identifies the advantages and disadvantages of its use for both students and experienced sociologists. The authors of the article discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the methods and practices used by sociologists, possible ethical dilemmas that may arise in the process of its implementation in sociology. Special attention is paid to the use of the neural network by students of sociology and the consequences of this trend on their quality of training and competencies. The impact of the introduction of artificial intelligence on the transformation of the labor market is emphasized.

The article is devoted to a critical analysis of the validity of the extended use of the term “fundamentalism” mainly in non-academic sources. In recent decades, fundamentalism has been used to refer to a wide range of social phenomena and ideologies that turn out to be conservative upon examination, and the label of fundamentalism serves as an opportunity to give the discussed subject a negative connotation that has formed among a wide range of people due to war on radical terrorist groups, some of which actually professed the ideology of Islamism. The author conducts a sociophilosophical analysis of the phenomenon of fundamentalism, drawing a clear and justified line that outlines the scope of the concept and allows it to be separated from superficially similar phenomena, such as conservatism.

In the article, protest sentiments are differentiated by the nature of constructiveness and conventionality. Destructive and unconventional protest sentiments often result in extremist and radical actions that pose a threat to the sustainable development of society. The protest youth is divided into activists, situational supporters and passive observers. The discourse analysis of modern scientific research has revealed the predominance of informational, social, political and psychological factors in the formation of protest sentiments. The researchers’ discursive proposals are compared with sociological data revealing the ideas of Russian youth about the necessary ways to develop social activity. Depending on the type of political orientation, potential strategies for the de-escalation of radical protest sentiment are determined.

These strategies are based on public engagement and access to resources.

Currently, Central Asia and the Caspian region are experiencing a boom in geopolitical interest from major external players for the second time since gaining independence. In the 90s of the last century, the main area of interest was natural resources, primarily oil and gas, the reserves of which in the region are significant by world standards. The current rapid growth in the activity of major players is concentrated in the transport sector. Difficulties in maritime transportation due to security and environmental issues, and increasing tensions between Russia and the West are pushing for the development of alternative land routes, primarily in Eurasia. This leads to a huge interest in the development of transport corridors through Central Asia and the Caspian Sea, while logistics projects are usually considered by initiators and major players as a tool to strengthen their influence in the region.

Today, the multipolar nature of the world is becoming more evident. As the countries gain increasing influence, BRICS members are assuming more responsibility for developing nations, transitioning from merely reacting to international financial challenges to actively shaping the global order.

With the expansion of its membership, BRICS is facing new challenges and opportunities. It has become increasingly important for its member countries to critically reflect on the current international economic and political landscape and analyze their respective positions and strategies for cooperation. In the future, this alliance has the potential to establish itself as a key player in the global South, serving as a significant platform for large-scale governance. 

The article discusses the analysis of Russian students’ attitudes towards the special military operation. Specifically, it attempts to understand and explain why there is a rather cool perception of the situation among young people, as well as the desire to distance oneself from the mobilization topic and take a wait-and-see approach to the issue. At the same time, the author connects the analysis with the problems of modern youth socialization, as well as with the insufficient effectiveness of government agencies’ propaganda efforts with students. Options for improving such activities are suggested in order to increase student involvement in patriotic activities, including promoting their own initiatives. 

The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of network tools on the formation of students’ trust in the main types of transport sharing economy: carsharing, bikesharing, kicksharing and ridesharing. In order to study this phenomenon, a sociological study was conducted using an online survey (CAWI), in which students studying at all faculties of the Financial University of Moscow took part. During the sociological research conducted by the authors of the article, special attention was paid to the analysis of the dynamics of data obtained in 2022 and 2024. It was revealed that network tools have a significant influence on trust in sharing services, which depends on the specific tool and the specific type of transport sharing economy. The authors offer recommendations to vehicle rental companies to increase trust in online tools and attract new users of the transport sharing economy.

The article examines the tax instruments of state regulation in the field of investment growth and renewal of fixed assets. The dynamics of the inflow of investments into fixed assets is analyzed, the factors influencing the volume and growth rates of investments are considered. The state can use various instruments to stimulate investment and upgrade fixed assets: the financial, monetary, and tax ones. The article highlights the main tax instruments and provides a comparative description of them. The features of special investment contracts are described, their similarities and differences are highlighted.

Today the world is experiencing the transformation of the system of international relations and revision of global “rules of the game”. The transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world is associated with a decline in the status and role of the United States in world politics, which makes it the key opponent of the ongoing processes. The US uses sanctions as the main tool of its foreign policy, seeking to involve as many countries as possible in the sanctions rhetoric. At the same time, the processes taking place in the world demonstrate the split of sanctions coalitions and disagreement of the world players with the irrational policy of the US, which stimulates further development of alternative projects, such as BRICS. In addition to changes in the external conjuncture, it is important to note the ineffectiveness of sanctions as an instrument of pressure. A vivid example is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which managed to withstand the onslaught of sanctions and ensure the development of the country. The author proposes to consider the Iranian experience of combating sanctions pressure for Russia, in particular, to use elements of the resistance economy program.

Perestroika, which began in 1985, required qualitative transformations in all spheres of Russian society. Undoubtedly, urgent issues concerning state-church relations were waiting for resolution. Since the mid-80s, a fundamentally new sociopolitical situation has been emerging in the country, which has led to the formation of democratic political and legal norms between the Soviet State, the people and religious organizations since the mid-80s. The same internal political situation contributed to the rise of the religious feeling of the Russian people. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Pimen and members of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church met on April 29, 1988, on the threshold of the landmark celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. This meeting, in many ways, determined the fate of state-church relations for the coming decades, as it discussed topical issues concerning religious policy, the resolution of which required an acute discrepancy between the current legislation and the real situation in society.

The article discusses the participation of Uzbek soldiers in the Great Patriotic War and the factors that contributed to the formation of inter-ethnic cooperation and friendship, which influenced their mindset. The author argues that the character of the Uzbek soldiers was shaped on the basis of the Russian mentality, culture, and willingness of the Russian soldier to assist a friend regardless of their nationality. At the same time, the Uzbeks preserved their national and religious identities. In author’s opinion, common achievements during the Soviet era, as well as the preservation and strengthening of relations and cooperation in economic, cultural, and educational fields, play an essential role for the people of the currently sovereign states. 

For the philosophy of the XX century, the figure of Spinoza becomes very crucial, it was at this time when the ideas of the Dutch philosopher received a new perspective and acquired a whole variety of interpreters. This is especially noticeable in the camp of Marxist philosophy, which tries to trace the conceptual relationship between the theories of Marx and Spinoza. The Soviet philosopher Evald Ilyenkov clearly expresses in his writings the idea that Spinoza is an actual thinker for contemporary Marxism. Spinoza was “ahead of his time”, he thinks dialectically, and his concepts are able to shed light on many contemporary philosophical discussions. The Italian philosopher Antonio Negri repeats the motif of Spinoza’s contemporaneity and acknowledges him as a “Savage Anomaly” that stands out from the intellectual landscape of his era. Marx and Spinoza find themselves in the same camp of thinkers, but what really makes it possible to justify the unity of this camp? It is impossible to reconstruct this consonance of Spinoza’s philosophy with Marxist thought of the XX century without referring to the works of Ilyenkov and Negri. The aim of this article is to highlight the relevance and main problematic of the two different approaches to Spinoza`s legacy in XX century Marxism. Ilyenkov’s figure in this issue is particularly interesting because he goes against the current of Marxist thought, which tries to banish dialectics from the very foundation of materialist philosophy. Louis Althusser has already clearly voiced this turn from dialectics towards the study of objective structures, and Negri, considering dialectics rather an outdated philosophical language, proposes a project of a materialistic biopolitics of the “common” and the immanence of being. The question of dialectics in this matter becomes important, since Ilyenkov does not seek to abandon it, as well as the legacy of Hegel’s philosophy. The problem of thinking and action is at the center of Ilyenkov’s attention when he reads Spinoza as a contemporary author. Ilyenkov’s philosophy in dialogue with the materialism of “immanence” is able to bring new perspectives to the study of Spinoza’s reception through the prism of contemporary Marxism.