Abstract: The subject of the study is the regional dimension of "the Great Game" during its formation and development. The relevance of the study is due to the current increase in international tension and confrontation between Russia and the states of the collective West, as well as the related threats of destabilization of the Central Asian region. At the same time, there are many diverse, including mutually exclusive, interpretations of the regional dimension of "the Great Game" in the discourses. The purpose of the article is to characterize the transformation of the geographical boundaries of the classical version of the Russian–British geopolitical rivalry in Central and South Asia during its formation and development (late XVIII – mid XIX centuries). The following research sources were used: works by Russian and British travelers, officers and residents; interstate legal acts; reference publications. The methodological basis of the research is the provisions of neorealism in terms of a systematic analysis of international relations, which led to the use of historical-genetic, activity-based and comparative methods. As a result of the study, the problem of having many different interpretations of the regional dimension of "the Great Game" was identified. The reasons, context, and features of the formation of the area of Russian-British geopolitical rivalry are clarified. The core and periphery of this phenomenon are highlighted. The trends of localization and displacement of "hotbeds" of activity within the framework of this competition are substantiated. The stages of transformation of the geographical boundaries of the classic version of "the Great Game" are characterized. The conducted research allows us to identify the core (the main space) and the periphery (periodically activated "pockets") of the Russian-British geopolitical rivalry. The core of "the Great Game" has traditionally been the territories of India and Afghanistan. Peripheral "foci" located along the perimeter of the core and connected to it existed alternately, synchronously, or partially intersected in time. It has been established that there is a pattern in the relationship between the phases of activation of "the Great Game" and the intensification of manifestations of British Russophobia, which has been acquiring the characteristics of ideology since the first third of the 19th century.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the question of influence of the Russian parliamentarism upon the state’s foreign policy over the period of 1905-1917. The article provides approaches of the scholars, as well as characterizes the key stages of evolution of the Russian parliamentarism in the context of impact upon the state’s foreign policy. The author demonstrates the examples and mechanism of participation of the State Council and State Duma in the country’s foreign affairs; reveals the peculiarities of establishment and social compositions of the two chambers of parliament; and analyzes the specificity of impact of the Russian representative authority upon the state’s foreign policy mechanism. It is noted that the emergence of representative authority, reforms in the Council of Ministers, expansion of civil and political freedoms have significantly complicated the process of functionality of the Russian foreign policy mechanism by creating the indirect instruments of influence upon the state’s foreign policy. The author underlines the rapid growth of interest of the Russian society towards the questions of foreign policy, as well as noticeable empowerment of public opinion regarding the formulation and adoption of decisions in the area of foreign policy.

Abstract: The research object is the peculiarities of directions of the cultural and psychological methodology of international political studies. The author notes that the Russian political science hasn’t given appropriate attention to these directions until recently. The author describes the specialists’ approaches and considers the following directions of the cultural and psychological methodology of international political studies: the person-centered approach, the study of the influence of public opinion, the study of impact of personal and corporate interests, irrational manifestations and other psychological factors, an “operational code”; the “historical experience of generations” concept; the mental approach. The research methodology is based on the system approach. The author uses the historical-genetic, socio-psychological and comparative methods. The author proves that the cultural and psychological methodology of international political studies is aimed at the penetration into the “human dimension” of the world politics and international relations, into the mental sphere of a society, a group and a person in order to detect the determinants and prerequisites of particular decisions and actions in the mentioned sphere and to make more realistic forecasts. 

Abstract: The research subject is the problem of participation of the Soviet representative and legislative power in the foreign policy of the state in 1917 – 1991. The paper describes the approaches of different scholars. The author shows that during the Soviet period, the impact of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the foreign policy of the state wasn’t decisive. Foreign policy was formed and realized by a narrow group of people, the key representatives of the ruling elite, and in the postwar years – within the Central Committee of the Communist Party, which had enough authorities, information and expert resources. In the result of reforms of “perestroika”, the role of the Supreme Soviet in the foreign policy of the state increased. In 1989 – 1991 this institution had performed important international political and diplomatic actions to realize the course, adopted by the first Congress of People’s Deputies. Those actions led to the significant changes in the USSR positioning on the international stage and its relations with particular countries, and determined the subsequent transformation of the international system. The research methodology is based on the system approach. The author applies institutional, historical and genetic, and socio-psychological methods. The author proves that during the mentioned period, the general trend of the Russian state functioning had been manifesting itself: the defense and foreign issues were controlled not by the head of the executive power, but, generally, by the supreme leader. His milieu, consisting of the most influential politicians of that period, played a decisive role in decision making in the sphere of foreign policy.