Abstract: The wave of terrorist attacks that permeated the Western European countries in 2010’s, on the background of rapid transformations in ethnic and religious composition of the population in the region, once again testifies to the relevance of studying the processes taking place among the national minorities. Particular interest in this regard present the communities, that relatively recently have settled in the EU states, namely the African. An attempt is made to examine the Zimbabwean diaspora in modern Great Britain, meticulously researching the key immigration indexes and arrival channels of the Zimbabweans to the British Islands over the period of 1990 – 2000’s. The author analyses the aspects of inner development of the diaspora, its professional composition, problem of employments, as well as the role of African churches in everyday life of the newcomers. The Zimbabweans of Great Britain are one of the five numerous African diasporas in the country, with good language proficiency and relatively high level of education. Absolute majority of the newcomers from Zimbabwe are the migrants of first generation from the ethnic groups of Shona and Ndebele. The composition of the diaspora is characterized by the extreme heterogeneity with notable percentage of persons of uncertain migration status. Migrants from Zimbabwe stand out in their active social position and specific not fully formed identity based on the ethno-linguistic solidarity and traditional values. It is a notable fact that the British Zimbabweans retain close relation with the historical motherland, regularly transferring financial support to their relatives.

Keywords: Integration, Refugees, Africa, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, Employment, Identity, Migration, Multiculturalism, Diaspora

Abstract: The object of this research is the process of social manipulation of the modern youth. The subject of this research is the political parties as the agents-subjects of the process of social manipulation of youth. Relevance of the topic is substantiated by the fact that in the conditions of systemic crisis of basic institutions and institutions of socialization of the modern Russian society, exists a pressing need in development of the effective mechanism of counteracting the manipulative influence of the various ambiguous subjects of social life upon the modern youth, which use it as an object of manipulations, testing the political and socio-psychological technologies and experiments. In this context, the systematization of corresponding scientific knowledge on the nature, essence and peculiarities of functionality of the political parties as an important socio-political institution, and simultaneously, an agent-subject of the process of social manipulation, manifests as a topical task faced by the modern Russian society and science. Analysis of the works of the classics of Russian and Western sociopolitical thought on the subject of research alongside the analysis of peculiarities of realization of the youth policy of political parties in the Russian Federation, have confirmed the relevance and novelty of the development of the indicated problematic, as well as an essential need in restricting the impact of political parties upon the political life of Russian society as one of the active subjects that produce continuous manipulative influence on the young generation.

Keywords: social and psychological technologies, electorate, party functionaries, party leader, political party, the subject of manipulative influence, manipulation, youth, youth policy, socialization of youth

Abstract: The object of this research is the processes of socioeconomic cooperation of Russia and China at the present stage. The subject is the peculiarities of socioeconomic cooperation of the bordering regions of the Russian Far East and Northeast China under the current circumstances. In the course of this research the author examines the works of the foreign, Chinese and Russian scholars in the area of sociology and political science. The goal is to study the socioeconomic problems in Russia-China cooperation. Special attention is given to the integration of Russian regions into the Asia-Pacific Region. The author meticulously reviews such aspects as the socioeconomic situation of both countries, focusing on cooperation between them and providing recommendation on increasing the living standards of the population. The scientific novelty lies in the authorial formulation of an important paradigm of China-Russia cooperation, which will result in a beneficial cooperation. The drawn conclusions form the specific measures aimed at further development of the Russian Far East as a transboundary region capable of taking the country onto the new level of relationship with the countries of the most rapidly developing region of the world. The author determines the key characteristics of the integration process of Russia into the Asia-Pacific space, as well as gives recommendations on improving the investment climate in the Russian Far East.

Keywords: social policy, Far East, interaction, cooperation, Russia, China, The Asia-Pacific region, Human Development Index, Jeanie's coefficient, Coefficient of funds

Abstract: The object of this research is the radical right-wing populist parties of the Federal Republic of Germany, while the subject is the evolution of corresponding powers. The author sets a goal to determine the novelty of the phenomenon of “Alternative for Germany” for the German political landscape, as well as formulate the forecast of the existence and development of the party based on the available data. Particular attention is given to the concepts “radical right-wing” and “populist”, trends of their interpretation in the academic environment, and their applicability in characterizing the “Alternative for Germany”. It has been established that the slogans “Alternative for Germany” in multiple ways are concordant with the programs of its predecessors, as the party also receives the electoral support due to the alignment of the “grand coalition” parties. However, an average elector of the party has the untypical for the radical right-wing party socioeconomic characteristics and resembles an elector from the moderate parties. It is assumed that the populist component for the “Alternative for Germany” is significantly more important than the radical right-wing orientation. A conclusion is made that the party will continue existing in the next electoral cycles, but lose its current protest potential.

Keywords: far-right parties, PEGIDA, NPD, Germany, FRG, populism, Alternative for Germany, Schill party, opposition parties, Ernesto Laclau

Abstract: This article examines the problematic of search of the unified and universal approach towards assessing the efficiency and performance of state policy aimed at formation of the open government systems. The author determines the separate issues of formation of the corresponding methodology and their causes, considering the foreign and national experiences; underlines the problematic of the national variability and the need for establishing the link between the specific actions of the governments on implementing the mechanisms of openness and their results concerning the efficiency improvement of the state policy of openness. The article presents the relevant from the perspective of their potential universality models of the assessment and monitoring of implementation of the mechanisms and instruments of openness by the government authorities. The author provides recommendation on solution of the problem of search of the unified and universal methodology based on the adjustment of the “triangle” of Ingram, and emphasizes the necessity to shift from the assessment of progress of implementation of the separate mechanisms of openness towards the assessment and monitoring of effects of the corresponding state policy.

Keywords: monitoring, policy, accountability, society, transparency, performance evaluation, open government, mechanism, triangle of Ingram, analysis

Abstract: This article attempts to comprehend the risks produced by consumer society. The research interest is  focused on analysis of the phenomenon of excessive consuming  that overwhelmed the social space, as well as the field of human feelings. The author examines the principles of consumer society, their totality and omnitude, and functionality as a social and moral norm. All things are viewed as the symbolic entities, materialized images and desires, illusions and simulacrums. It is demonstrated how the imperatives of consumer society, ideology of materialism create the world of value preferences. The scientific novelty lies in substantiation of a thesis that the consumer society creates circumstances that encourage the emergence of risks of different content and effect. The risks grasp the entire area of social relations, transform the nature of social connection and relationships, and impart negative features onto the moral-ethical norms and value orientations.

Keywords: happiness, kitsch, hedonism, brand, cultural value, risk, consumer society, symbol, simulacrum, imitation