International relations - rubric Challenges and threats to international security

Abstract: The interaction between Russia and China is a coordinated cooperation on a wide range of issues and problems. The parties are developing a strategic partnership, an important aspect of which is cooperation between Russia and China to ensure global and regional security. The effectiveness of such cooperation directly depends on how successfully the Russian-Chinese partnership will develop, aimed at countering new challenges and threats to security. One of these threats is international terrorism, primarily in its Islamist form. The study examines the specifics of bilateral cooperation between Russia and China in the field of combating international terrorism. The author has studied the forms and tools of bilateral cooperation at the global, regional and national levels. The article notes that cooperation between Russia and China in countering terrorism takes place on the main global platforms (the UN, the SCO). The study uses historical-comparative, historical-typological and problem-chronological methods, which allowed the author to study the approaches of Russia and China to measures to counter terrorism in the context of exacerbation of non-traditional challenges and threats. Russia and China, as permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), contribute to the management of global security and ensuring international stability through the development and implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism, participation in projects of the UN Counter-Terrorism Center (UNTC), UN peacekeeping operations. In the regional subsystem, the SCO is an important platform for countering terrorism and ensuring international stability, within which countries have built an effective regulatory and institutional framework for combating terrorism. The article proves that at the bilateral level, the parties have created a mechanism for interaction between law enforcement agencies and special services. In addition, the parties are jointly involved in the fight against international terrorist groups involved in the Syrian conflict. The author concludes that the counter-terrorism system built in Russian-Chinese relations makes a constructive contribution to ensuring international and regional security from non-traditional threats.

Keywords: regional security, Central Asia, RATS, peacekeeping operations, strategic partnership, SCO, UN, international terrorism, China, Russia

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2013.3.6143

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2017.2.22858

Abstract: The author studies the Italian parliamentary debates of 3 July 2012 on the draft law about the participation of Italian troops in the UN peacekeeping operation called the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS). The purpose of the research is to study the mentioned debates in the context of the 2015 European migration crisis caused by intensification of military activities in Syria, provoked by both the confrontation between the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the opposition, and by the struggle against the largest terrorist organization – the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The main research methods are the comparative-legal and the descriptive-narrative. The author concludes that the opposition and the majority had been united by the wish to avoid the intervention into Syria. But while the opposition didn’t offer any alternative variants, the majority block called upon to combine the efforts for diplomatic settlement of the conflict. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that the issue under discussion hasn’t been studied in the Russian science so far. The author concludes that despite the fact that the Chamber of Deputies of Italy had considered various issues connected with the Syrian conflict, and the measures and activities which could have prevented it, the parliamentarians couldn’t predict the situation in Syria to go beyond the regional borders and provoke the critical situation on the external borders of the European Union. Since 2013, the Syrians have topped the rating of the total number of migrants. The Syrian conflict is still far from being managed, and the causes of the migration wave are still urgent.

Keywords: Syria, Italian troops, the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria, migration flows, crisis, European Union, migrants, Italian Parliament , migration crisis, Italy

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2023.1.39746

Abstract: This study examines the role of Vietnam in the fight against terrorism. The study focuses on the activities of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member VietNam in the area of counter-terrorism, radicalism and extremism. The authors examine in detail the legal framework of ASEAN’s counter-terrorism activities: the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism, the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter-Terrorism, ASEAN plan of action to prevent and counter the rise of radicalisation and violent extremism (POA PCVE). Moreover, close attention is given to the activities of specialized bodies: ASEAN Ministerial Meetings on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Intersessional Meeting on Terrorism and Transnational Crime (ISM on CTTC). The main conclusions of the study are the establishment of activities of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the field of counter-terrorism, the definition of the role of Vietnam in the fight against terrorism, radicalism and extremism, Analysis of Viet Nam’s cooperation with various international organizations on counter-terrorism issues and identification of further necessary actions of Vietnam aimed at improving the fight against terrorism. The relevance of the study is due to the increased level of terrorist threat in the world and in the region of South-East Asia in particular. This study is based on the theory of political realism, which views international relations as an eternal confrontation between States defending their national interests. In the process of studying this problem, the authors apply institutional, analytical and problem-chronological methods.

Keywords: ARF, AMMTC, SOMTC, UN, Cooperation, Vietnam, Convention, Terrorism, ASEAN, ISM on CTTC

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2022.3.27472

Abstract: The article examines the main challenges and threats to the security of the countries of the Central Asian region, as well as examines their positions and interests in the context of resolving the situation in Afghanistan. The relevance of the research topic lies in the fact that the conflict in the IRA has not been resolved to this day, which creates security threats in the CAR countries. The author pays special attention to the study of the specifics of bilateral relations between the Central Asian states and Afghanistan in the issue of ensuring regional security and establishing peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The methods of comparison and analysis allowed the author to establish similarities and differences in the approaches of the Central Asian countries to the settlement of the Afghan crisis. The article analyzes the bilateral relations of the states of the region on this issue, their national benefits from a stable Afghanistan and proposals for the settlement of the Afghan conflict. The main factors of instability in the region, as well as mutual benefits in bilateral relations and the interests of the CAR countries in Afghanistan are considered.

Keywords: Afghanistan, Central Asia, instability factors, national interests, security threats, afghan crisis, CAR, bilateral cooperation, drug threat, terrorism

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2014.1.10242

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2014.1.63746

Abstract: The object of study in this article includes the drug trafficking problems in the Latin American states and their possible solutions by legalizing narcotic drugs. The author describes a troublesome situation, which has formed in this region lately, leading to the growing crime and violence, as well as corruption and infiltration of narcotic cartels into the state structures. The author evaluates the experience of legalizing drugs in the European states, its positive and negative consequence s. The author used analytical and comparative study methods, as well as scholarly literature in this field. Currently the problem of drug trafficking is topical to the global community as a whole, as well as to the American continent. Having analyzed the experience of the European states, the author makes a conclusion that legalizing drugs is one of the possible solutions, which would change the current situation and lower the crime level in the Latin American region.

Keywords: Latin America, drug trafficking, corruption, violence, legalization, marijuana, cannabis, drugs, crime, threat.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2021.4.37018

Abstract: Tracing the evolution of Barack Obama's National Strategy for Counterterrorism is relevant for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, foreign policy and globalist trends were the reason for coming to power of the next president-isolationist Donald Trump. Secondly, many experts believe that the current administration of the White House pursues a successive foreign policy course namely in relation to the concept of B. Obama. And ultimately, consideration of the factors that affect the transformation of foreign policy strategy, and its counterterrorism component in particular, may contribute to forecasting similar processes under other administrations. The conclusion is made that Barack Obama preferred multilateral cooperation over unilateral coercive course; and the vector towards harmonization of relations with the Muslim world triggered the revision of the “struggle against terrorism” paradigm of George Bush Jr. B. Obama’s administration declared the transition from the concept of preventive strikes towards the concept of “smart power” and “leading from behind”, which manifested in the course of anti-terrorist operation in Syria. The author notes that the activity of Barack Obama in countering international terrorism is characterized by the departure from the tactics of conducting large-scale and costly wars of George Bush Jr. to joint targeted counterterrorism operations.

Keywords: USA, International conflicts, Multilateral Diplomacy, National security, Middle East, Military operations, Strategy, Barack Obama, Fight against terror, George Bush

Abstract: The communication aspect of international security today is increasingly investigated by European researchers rather than Russian. However, both domestic and foreign researchers increasingly admit that it is necessary to develop different management solutions in the sphere of security, algorithms with predictable results. The times of crisis and rising instability in different regions including Europe and Latin America make the current theme especially important. In the present article we shall try to research the motivation of the ethno-religious terrorists’ attacks in the European Union and Latin America and also obstacles in a way of antiterrorist struggle. The article was prepared within the bounds of Federal Target Programme “Scientifi c & Pedagogic Personnel of Innovative Russia” in 2009 – 2013.

Keywords: terrorism, ethno-religious, European Union, Latin America, communication management.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2017.4.20727

Abstract: The subject of the study is institutional and economic relations influencing the development of competition among national innovation systems in the post-Soviet space aimed at ensuring economic security in the global world. The subject of the research is innovative systems of the Union State. The authors claim that intensity of competition at the turn of the 21st century was conditioned by unevenness of economic and social development expressed in disparity of the development not only of separate countries but also of regions and industries through different capital accumulation rates. In this context, the formation and implementation of effective competitive strategies by international companies and states in order to ensure their high competitive status is a priority task of international policies of almost all developed countries of the world. The authors consider such aspects of the topic as competitiveness determined by the criterion of effectiveness of any economic entity. The level of NIS competitiveness also determines the world economic positions of countries. The use of methods of theoretical analysis (induction and deduction, general-to-specific and specific-to-general analysis, theoretical comparison, comparison and generalization) along with targeted-programme method allowed to analyse the existing approaches and techniques for the study of various aspects of innovative systems integration of neighbouring countries with the aim of identifying, finalizing and developing new approaches to exploration of NIS competitiveness and development effects. Methods for empirical information procession and analysis (grouping, comparison, index, correlation and regressive analysis) allowed to obtain new reliable indicators on the development and functioning of the NIS of neighbouring countries. Scientific novelty of the research: it was shown that the forms and methods of state management in the field of scientific and technological activities are not properly regulated at the regional level. The evident trends clearly indicate that there is still no effective system of promotion of innovative activity of economic entities at the regional and state levels, and therefore there is a need in a special wide system of regulators of this process to revitalize the innovative activities. The authors offered a mechanism for promoting the innovative activity of economic entities which should operate at all levels - from government to local authorities. The article also proposes a system of innovative activity financing from all possible sources. The concepts of competitiveness of national economy are of great practical importance for the development of programs improving national competitive advantages, as well as developing its export base at the national and regional levels over the long term. The places occupied by the regions of the Union State in the ratings of authoritative international organizations clearly demonstrate their non-competitiveness. A prerequisite for overcoming the crisis, for integration and solution of the national security problems is the development and implementation of global strategic architecture for improvement of its international competitiveness.

Keywords: integration , safety, innovative system , Union State, economic space, competitiveness, system, development, structure, innovation

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2020.2.28836

Abstract: The subject of this research is the migration processes with regards to national, regional and international security. The author examines threats to security of the Far East related to external and domestic migration; as well as similar processes in the countries of Northeast Region and their impact upon the state of regional security overall. The goal of this work is to analyze this phenomenon in Northeast Asia, and the influence of migration processes upon regional security. The link between migration and security is bilateral. On one side is security of the countries and societies directly affected by migration; while on the other – security of actual people who comprise the migration flows. The research employs the comparative and historical approaches, which allow analyzing the peculiarities of formation of the “agenda” of regional security in the Northeast Asia, including the questions of migration, as well as trace the transformation of national approaches towards ensuring regional security along with the threats themselves in the sphere of migration. The Russian political science does not currently contain works that view the problems of migration in Northeast Asia in the context of regional and international security (despite the fact, that there is multiple research on migration overall). Migration is a not a potential challenge, it is a real threat to security. None of the countries in the region was able to avoid the influence of at least separate aspects of migration processes.

Keywords: political aspects, threats, regional security, Russian Far East, North-Eastern Asia, China, migration, crime, society, countries of the region

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2022.2.37278

Abstract: The subject of the study is to identify the place and role of terrorist organizations in the system of international relations and global security from the point of view of strategic approaches of the Western expert-analytical community and official political institutions of nation states, the EU and NATO. Globalization, the growing influence of non-State actors, including armed groups, as well as changing views on the nature and essence of the State have contributed to the hidden or explicit subjectivization of many participants in the international political process. Special attention is paid in the article to the new concept of "hybrid actor", which is widely discussed among experts and scientists at the present time. For the first time, the paper attempts to compare the positions of the United States and its European allies on interaction with hybrid actors. Thus, in recent decades, non-State actors have evolved in terms of political, social and military capabilities. This trend is evident in the Middle East and North Africa region, where the combination of weak State institutions, the presence of conflicts and instability has provided fertile ground for the actions of armed groups. Non-State armed groups in the Middle East are extremely diverse and include local, tribal and communal formations, transnational criminal organizations and networks, classic rebel opposition groups and so on. Within this broad category, a number of non-State armed groups have evolved to perform political, social and managerial functions.

Keywords: expert community, hybrid threats, national security, EU Global Strategy, European Union, NATO, General Security Policy, hybrid actor, HAMAS, quasi - states

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2016.1.17842

Abstract: The paper is aimed at carrying out the comparative analysis of the two largest terrorist organizations – Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State by means of studying the political practice of their functioning. The research object is the terrorist structures, and the research subject is the comparison of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State according to their similarities and differences. Special attention is paid to the concept of terrorism, the peculiarities of the contemporary terrorist organizations, the history of development and the structure of the groups under discussion, and the results of their terrorist activities. The research methodology is based on the comparative analysis of terrorist organizations revealing their similarities and differences according to eight positions. The author applies the structural functional general methodological approach to the consideration of the elements of these organizations, their functions and interdependencies. The author applies the following empirical methods: analysis of documents and the secondary analysis of statistical data. On the base of the comparative study the author analyzes the development of the phenomenon of terrorism using the particular examples. The author concludes that Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are very much alike in the object of struggle and some methods of recruiting, have common types of sources of financing and the origins of the military activists, and have the almost equal number of recruiters in different countries. But they differ in the type of organization, the character of actions, the territory of spread and the ideas about the possibility of the soonest coming of Islamic caliphate.

Keywords: terrorism, terrorist organizations, Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, comparative analysis, genesis, institutional peculiarities, development trends, threats, international safety

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2016.1.67560

Keywords: terrorism, terrorist organizations, Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, comparative analysis, genesis, institutional peculiarities, development trends, threats, international safety

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2019.4.31601

Abstract: The object of this research is the US cybersecurity policy. The subject of this research is the approaches and threats to the US cybersecurity in the 1990-2010s. The authors carefully analyze the approaches of the United States towards cybersecurity in this period and meticulously examine the cyber threats in US documents in the area of international cybersecurity, drawing parallels regarding US with Russia and China on the questions of cooperation and competition in the area of information technologies during the Obama and Trump administrations. The scientific novelty of this research consists in the analysis and application of a wide spectrum of Western sources and literature in the area of research on cybersecurity policy of the United States. The main conclusion consists in the fact that understanding of cybersecurity in the United States undergone several stages of evolution, and gradually gained political dimension. In the official documents, we can see mentions of external actors such as Russia and China as opponents of the US in the field of structuring global cybersecurity system. Thus, the discourse of cyber threats has changed, and their typology continues to grow and be refined.

Keywords: national cyber strategy, foreign policy, US policy, US national security, cyber security policy, cyber threats, cyber security, cybercrime, information technology, United States of America

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2013.1.62100

Abstract: Terrorism in the variety of its forms is regarded as one of the most pressing global problems in the modern world. From the 1990s on this threat touches upon Russia as well. Terrorism is a threat to the national security of our state, its national interests, no matter if its sources are domestic or transnational extremist and terrorist organizations, which wish to influence the political processes in Russia, while using various ethnic, political and religious slogans.

Keywords: political science, Russia, extremism, terrorism, security, political stability, politics, the Northern Caucasus, the anti-terrorist operation, ideology.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2024.1.70116

Abstract: This article examines Cambodia’s involvement in regional security issues within the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The relevance of the topic of the study is due to the growing tension in the region of the South China Sea, consisting in the confrontation between the USA and the PRC, and the increase in terrorist activities in South-East Asia. The author examines in detail the history of the formation and development of the ASEAN, the evolution of the association’s regional security system. The author closely analyzes the problems of regional security of ASEAN, the role of the Kingdom of Cambodia in solving previously mentioned problems. The study focuses on ASEAN regional security issues in South-East Asia. The study focuses on the role of the Kingdom of Cambodia in addressing ASEAN regional security concerns. This scientific article is based on the theory of neoliberalism. The main conclusions of the research are related to the study of the history of the formation and development of the ASEAN, the evolution of the association’s regional security system, the identification of key problems of ensuring ASEAN regional security, among which we can highlight the growth of terrorist activities, the tension between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, the lack of a legal framework to resolve or respond to military conflicts, the definition of the role of Cambodia in the settlement of regional security problems in ASEAN, based on the rich experience in the implementation of counter-terrorism activities and on leveling the rivalry of the PRC and the USA in the Asia-Pacific, built on strong bilateral relations as with the United States; just like in China. The scientific novelty of the study is the content-analysis of key ASEAN documents and the structuring of the ASEAN regional security system.

Keywords: Southeast Asia, APSC, PRC, USA, Terrorism, Problem, Security, ASEAN, APAC, Cambodia

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2019.1.28741

Abstract: The subject of the research is cyberspace as the potential grounds of hybrid war as a result of the growing tension in The Arctic. According to the author, cyberspace is the main field of hybrid wars nowadays. The author of the article examines such aspects of the topic as the legal regulation of cyberspace security issues, available researches of the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union as well as solutions of these issues at the global level as part of the United Nations Organization's activity. The fact that cyberspace is actively used for information war and it is often very difficult to discover the source of propaganda or hacker's attack creates risks associated with the use of cyberspace for the development of northern territories. Providing that the development of The Arctic is a knowledge-intensive process, it would be impossible without the use of complex technical facilities accessible for cyber attacks. The research is based on the principles of historicism, sytems approach, and objectivity. The methodological basis of the research is the comparative analysis which implies the comparison of two or more phenomena. The author has also applied the method of content-analysis. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the author raises a question about the challenges and threats of the digitalization process in case of The Arctic development as a result of the weak legal regulation of the virtual world activity. The rationale of the research is caused by the new opportunities of extraction of commercial minerals in the region and prolongation of the terms of the use of Northern sea routes. In conclusion, the author emphasizes the need to introduce more innovative technologies that would protect from hacker's attacks.

Keywords: Data center, sustainable development, The high north, Information and communications technology, Hybrid war, Northern Europe, Cybersecurity, The Arctic, United Nations Organisation, Digitalization

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2019.1.29012

Abstract: The author of this article examines the situation with the Liancort rocks and describes the history of the development of this territorial dispute, reasons and arguments that are provided by the parties to prove the affiliation of these islands to their territory. The author focuses on the position of Russia on this issue providing that Russia's territorial dispute with Japan about the Kuril Islands is a uniting factor for Russia and the Republic of Korea. The object of the research is the territorial dispute around the Liancourt Rocks. The subject of the research is possible prospects for the cooperation between the Russian Federation and Republic of Korea for dispute resolution. The methodological basis of the research is the principle of historicism that allows to view the problem from the point of view of its dynamics and development and establish the connection between the past and the future. Based on the research results, the author makes the following conclusions: today the question about territorial affiliation of the Liancourt Rocks is still left unanswered, however, there are certain prospects for the cooperation between the Russian Federation and Republic of Korea in order to difuse a conflict, for example, the countries may initiate negotiations in other fields.

Keywords: prospects, cooperation, tension, Asia-Pacific region, Liancourt Rocks, Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, territorial dispute, international security, escalation

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2016.2.17155

Abstract: The article studies the problem of the world community’s struggle against religious extremism represented by radical Islamic groups, which widely use the method of terrorism to achieve their criminal objectives. The author considers the military and political group “Islamic State” (IS) as the international terrorism vanguard aiming at gaining world supremacy under Islamic slogans. The so-called pseudo-Islam with all the attributes of medieval bigotry has nothing in common with real Islam as one of the main world religions. Particular states, political parties, NGOs and groups of people use the still existing ethno-confessional contradictions to their advantage and provoke new wars and conflicts between peoples. 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 states that the today’s civil wars between Sunnites and Shiites in Iraq and Syria have been triggered off with the help of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. The donors of radical Islamites use the Islamic State and the related Islamic groups with Salafist and Wahhabist ideology to overthrow legal governments and seize power. The author concludes that such practices had resulted in the real threat to international security.

Keywords: USA, security, state, international conflicts, diplomacy, international relations, US foreign policy, world policy, Russia, geopolitics

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2016.2.67921

Keywords: USA, security, state, international conflicts, diplomacy, international relations, US foreign policy, world policy, Russia, geopolitics

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2018.2.25815

Abstract: The article focuses on collaboration of the Central Asian countries in the fight against the terrorist threat. The author analyzed the existing legal framework for the fight against terrorism, international law documents, as well as the UN conventions and revealed some legal shortcomings that prevent the international community from working together to fight effectively against this global evil. The author notes that the concept of "international terrorism" has no universally recognized definition, which explains the ineffectiveness of efforts to cope with it. The article states that terrorism is most active in the conditions of permanent political instability, weakness of state institutions, as well as in the period of economic crises, which is typical for the countries of Central Asia. The methodological basis of this article consists of several methods of scientific knowledge. The author applies the method of content analysis to study the legal system in the field of dealing with the terrorist threat in the framework of separate States of Central Asia, as well as in the framework of international organizations. Cognitive mapping is used to identify the range of the regional and global threats associated with terrorism. The historical approach to the study of the problems of international relations helps to determine the historical context of the origin and implementation of terrorist activities in the Central Asian region. The author explores the activities of such terrorist organizations as "Islamic State", "Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan", "Islamic Jihad" and shows their connection with some regional and global terrorist organizations such as "al-Qaeda", "Taliban". The author reveals the goals of these organizations - destabilization of the situation in the region, creation of Islamic States. The article reveals the reasons why the Central Asian region has become one of the most vulnerable regions to the terrorist threat.

Keywords: international terrorism, security threats, Islamic Jihad,, the Islamic movement of Uzbekistan, ISIL, Central Asia, Islam, extremism, geopolitics, radical ideas

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2013.2.62715

Abstract: Terrorism poses a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation and its national interests. That is why abolishing the terrorist threat is one of the key priorities for the domestic and foreign policy of our state. The year 2012 was a complicated period for the strengthening of the national security of our state. The recurrent complications in the North- Caucasian region, the aggravation of the international situation, including the North-African region and the Middle east, a number of heinous terrorist acts in the world, strengthening of the radical movements in the Islam in their totality provided for the background and defined the measures for fighting terrorism in the territory of Russia.

Keywords: political science, national security, political stability, politics, terrorism, conflict, Russia, power, government, national interests.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2013.3.62921

Abstract: The problems of territorial structure of a state and regional development are not novel to the Russian and foreign traditions of political science. An important specific feature of theoretical developments in the sphere of federalism is their correlation to the practical implementation of federal principles within certain territorial political systems, which allows for the constant development of the theory of federalism, amending existing concepts and approaches. Currently the political science provides for various points of view on the phenomenon of federalism. The discussions mostly concern its nature. According to the definition by the British political scientist Preston King federalism is an ideological and philosophical matter. The American political scientist Vincent Ostrom states that federalism is an ideology of the truly self-managing society, an alternative to any centralized power hierarchy.

Keywords: international relations, politics, federalism, concepts of federalism, West, interests, values, federal structure, federation, constituent subject of federation.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2013.4.9088

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2013.4.63338

Abstract: Currently the correlation with the presence of natural resources, serving as a powerful foreign policy instrument of a state, and the international relations, serving as a forceful factor for distribution of resources among various states, becomes quite topical. Such a “formula” is directly related to the water supply issue in all of the regions of the world. It is more and more often, that one has to mention forced migration of the people due to lack of fresh water, as well as conflicts among the states related to water use and control over vital waterways. The fresh water becomes a considerable factor in a global policy, and it is one of the most important security elements, since it is based upon three key elements: energy resources, foodstuffs and water. Till recently the states paid attention to the lack of fresh water to the needs of people, agriculture, and industry, now the states become more and more interested in gaining access to vital water ways of bordering states, which may in the futures guarantee security of the state allow to control neighboring states and regions.

Keywords: international relations, foreign policy, civilization, conflict, water resources, the Southern Asia, interests, values, security, state.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2014.4.13243

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2014.4.65635

Abstract: As the principal factor of the creation and development of the democratic election tradition in today’s Russia, this article chronologically considers the election campaigns for the lower house of the parliament during the period from 1993 to 2011 and expresses the opinion about possible trends of the forthcoming election cycle in the Russian Federation in 2016-2018. It is noted that at this historical stage, the Russian political system is still affected by the influence both of the internal political factors and external geopolitical processes. At the same time, new objectively occasioned trends are being actively created and they are not affected by the environment. The methodological base of this research is the systematic, structural and functional, comparative historic approaches, methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, observation, and modeling. Since 1993, elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation have been taking place in the new history of our country. Together with the institute of electing the President of the country, they also define the stages of the formation, establishment and development of the political system in today’s Russia. Lawmaking in our country is directly dependent on the quality of the parliament membership and its relationship with the executive federal authorities. It is the history of elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation which enables us to trace the key stages of Russia’s development as a democratic country on the modern geopolitical map of the world.