Abstract: The paper considers the concept of creation in the Russian Federation of a state system of color revolutions prevention both in the country and abroad, in the CIS, and on the territory of the Eurasian and Customs Unions. The aim of the study is to define the organizational and functional structure, the aims, tasks and the main directions of the activities of the centre for color revolutions monitoring, prevention and combating in the Russian Federation and on the Eurasian political space. The research methodology is based on the system, structural-functional, comparative-political methods, the methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and observation. The concept of creation of the centre for color revolutions prevention is elaborated in accordance with the new edition of the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation of 31 December 2015 (Presidential Decree No 537 of 12 May 2009) enumerating the color revolutions threat among the priority threats to the national security of the Russian Federation. The centre should focus on the monitoring of the color revolutions preparation signs, the system of color revolutions prevention, the system of early detection and fast response to color revolutions and attempts to organize them, and the permanent system of color revolutions prevention, including a wide range of general and specific methods. The author pays attention to the fact that the color revolutions threat is becoming urgent not only in Russia, where the western agents and the non-system opposition are becoming more active, but also in Syria, where Russia is carrying out an anti-terrorist operation together with the Syrian Arab Republic armed forces, due to the process of conflict settlement and preparation for general election which results had always been used by color revolutions political engineers as a pretext for mass protest actions.

Keywords: political system, Russia, world politics, US foreign policy, international relations, diplomacy, interests, state, security, color revolutions

Abstract: The author considers the process of formation of specific studies of the activities of transnational corporations within the Russian and foreign political science. The author analyzes the development of theoretical approaches in the study of TNCs as actors of world politics from the 1960s till present day. The paper defines the main factors having impact on the formation and transformation of the scientific researches vector in this sphere. Special attention is paid to the formation of a complex approach to the study of TNCs, according to which the corporations are the objects of interdisciplinary studies. The research methodology is based on the general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, the comparative method, the system approach, and the method of historiographical analysis. The research novelty lies in the historiographical description of subject transformations in the sphere of the world economy, international law, global studies, international, and world politics. The practical importance of the conclusions lies in the creation of a theoretical and conceptual basis for the development of political studies of TNCs. 

Keywords: transnationalism, non-governmental actor, globalization, internationalization, interdisciplinary researches, actor of world politics, transnational corporation, geocentric organization, Westphalian system, complex approach

Abstract: The asymmetry of the Russian federalism imposes certain imprints on the management of the regional political processes, including the issue of the introduction of the institution of direct gubernatorial elections. In particular, in the North Caucasus, there are several republics with no experience of gubernatorial elections (the Republic of Dagestan), or where elections had been held, but the results destabilized the situation in the region (the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Therefore, the introduction of the model of direct gubernatorial elections, typical for all other regions of Russia, theoretically could undermine the stability in the region. The introduction of direct gubernatorial elections must be carried out in the context of the existing national and cultural characteristics of the republics. As one of the instruments of improving the procedure of direct gubernatorial elections, a quota for minority ethnic groups was proposed to be used. National quotas had already been used, for example, in Dagestan. But this measure does not guarantee the election of the candidate of small peoples for the position of the head of the republic.

Keywords: diplomacy, socio-political processes, alliance, world politics, Russia, political system, interests, state, security, risks

Abstract: The research subject covers the Kurdish Syrian parties and their role in the political conflict in Syria. The research object is the Kurdish issue in Syria. The author considers the political programs of the two major Syrian Kurdish parties – the Democratic Union Party and the Kurdish National Council, their objectives, internal structure, strong and weak points, positions about the Syrian conflict, regional, and global orientation. The parties strive for organizing autonomous government in the Kurdish regions. Meanwhile, they oppose to each other, thus challenging the success of the Kurdish autonomous project in Syria. The methodology and theory of the research is based on interdisciplinary, system, institutional, and historical methods. The author studies the leading parties of the Syrian Kurdistan heading the Kurdish autonomy project launched after the beginning of the Syrian conflict, analyzes their objectives, political programs, structure, strong and weak points, regional and global orientation, and the position on the Syrian conflict. The author considers the parties’ interaction and analyzes the reasons of the parties’ confrontation. The author concludes that the autonomy project in Syria is at risk without a particular official agreement between the parties, a neutral position of Turkey in relation to the plans of the Syrian Kurds, and the support of the Kurdish regional government in Iraq. 

Keywords: Kurdish workers' Party, autonomy, Masoud Barzani, Turkey, Kurdish National Council, Democratic Union Party, Syria, The US, Russia, Kurdish Regional Government

Abstract: The article shows the reaction of China to the Arab Spring as a demonstration of an overall transformation of the country’s foreign policy. The research object is China's foreign policy strategy, the research subject is the peculiarities of its transformation in the context of the Arab Spring. The large-scale and rapid evacuation of its citizens from Libya has shown China's willingness to defend its interests all over the world. At the same time, China is still adhering to the basic principles on non-interference in the internal affairs of states and the willingness to cooperate with any kind of political regimes.The research methodology is based on the system, structural-functional, and comparative-political approaches, the methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and observation. The author also examines the impact of color revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa on China's home policy which took into account the lessons of the Arab Spring for preventing the 2014 Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong.

Keywords: diplomacy, international relations, U.S. foreign policy, world politics, Russia, geopolitics, China, state, security, color revolutions

Abstract: The topicality of studying the ideological grounds of a strong state is conditioned by the fact that the very idea of a strong state is among the social ideas about democracy, and, on the other hand, it has its roots in the Russian state. The paper analyzes the value perceptions of a strong state, considers the peculiarities of its vision as a public value. The author analyzes the issue in the context of its role in interstate relations and the correlation of values and interests in the state’s foreign policy. A strong state is considered as a value construct of internal and foreign policy of the state. The analysis of value perception is carried out within the socio-psychological approach aimed at defining cultural and psychological peculiarities of value understandings. The research method is the structural content-analysis. The author concludes that the value of a strong state is a publicly needed value, reveals the essence of the importance of a strong state in the perceptions of the Russian society, and outlines the existing social requirements which can be considered as the conditions connected with the value perspectives of Russia’s foreign policy.

Keywords: political values, strong state, foreign policy, value grounds of policy, conservative ideology, cultural and psychological peculiarities, political administrative structures, national interests, paternalism, political culture

Abstract: The article is devoted to the humanitarian side of Russia’s image in Europe. The author emphasizes the cultural, scientific, and educational cooperation between Russia and the EU which not only has particular results, but is also the example of Russia’s “soft power” promotion. The article considers the examples of this cooperation and defines its main advantages. Special attention is paid to the explanation of the importance of cooperation with the European countries in this sphere. The research object is the image of Russia in the EU; the research subject is its humanitarian side. The research methodology is based on the comparative analysis and observation, and the methods of induction and deduction. The author considers the importance of the nation branding mechanism in the image policy of Russia. Moreover, the scientific novelty of the study lies in the attempt to divide the European population into various groups according to the criteria of loyalty towards Russia. The author emphasizes the importance of sociological and marketing research of the audience for increasing the cooperation effectiveness. 

Keywords: country's image, scientific cooperation, cooperation in the educational sphere, European countries, image, EU, nation branding, Russia's image, loyalty, soft power