The notion of «the water world we want» is a spin-off of the United Nations campaign The World We Want. It is open to subjective interpretation, as people have different perceptions of a desired future. Each person or organization is likely to identify their own set of key concerns: food, clean (uncontaminated) water, sustained agricultural productivity, sustainable use of land and ocean resources, healthy lives and secure livelihoods. But whatever utopian world view one creates, it cannot be achieved without adequate sustained water supplies.

In 2009, the then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon noted: It is well known that water is life; what this Report shows is that water also means livelihoods. It is the route out of poverty for individuals and communities. Managing water is essential if the world is to achieve sustainable development.

This challenge is even more pressing as the world confronts the triple threats of climate change, rising food and energy costs, and the global economic crisis. All three are exacerbating poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.

It is apparent that climate, water and weather-related concerns are mounting. Societies are becoming increasingly aware that impacts of extreme hydrometeorological events expected to occur in, say, the 2050s are starting to appear decades earlier. These extreme events — related to climate change — are likely to increase in frequency, intensity and severity. 

International relations play a vital role in modern politics. They differ from any other relations by several features: spontaneity, lack of a single core of power and the center for making centralized decisions, coverage of all spheres of life of the participants involved in the process and the increasing influence of subjective factors. The scale that embraces international relations differs in «verticals» and «contours». They include global, regional and specific relationships, as well as group and bilateral relations.

China and Russia are connected by centuries-old history. Russian-Chinese relations and their dynamic development are of interest to the political science community. At present, they form an important material basis for cooperation in the areas of trade and economy, contributing to the development of the Russian economy.

China supports and subsidizes projects that ensure its interests in Russia. Political and economic cooperation between Russia and China is developing actively and is using more and more resources. The more important it becomes to maintain good-neighbor and productive relations. Russian-Chinese relations affect many spheres of life of the two States: scientific, economic, military, cultural, etc.in this light, economic cooperation stands out as one of the main. Russian-Chinese trade and economic cooperation is actively analyzed in the works of many researchers, but there is no consensus on the most important vectors of cooperation and prospects for its development. In this regard, the analysis and structuring of some areas of Russian-Chinese relations, foreign economic relations, opportunities for the development of relations between Russia and China, as well as their transition to a new level are becoming urgent.

China is the largest trade partner of Russia and an investor who is interested in promoting some projects implemented in Russia. For this reason, the development of successful and fruitful relations is in the first place among the leaders of the two powers. The need for multidirectional trade and economic relations is also conditioned by geopolitical, cultural and historical factors.

This chapter considers the approaches and possibilities of exploration and use of shale gas in the countries of the former USSR. Many of them became interested in the results of the US “shale revolution” which opened the new stage in gas production. Some post-Soviet countries are eager by using shale gas to reduce their dependence on external deliveries, thus, attaining energy independence.

The data on shale gas reserves in the post-Soviet countries are taken together; the preliminary results of energy policy in these countries concerning development of the shale gas deposits are presented; the first results of oil and gas company activities are analyzed.

Of all post-Soviet countries, Ukraine was most active in this respect having declared about possessing the greatest shale gas reserves. Ukraine invited foreign oil and gas companies which showed interest in the shale deposits. But the shale gas production in Ukraine acquired political dimensions impeding the objective assessment of startup conditions and likely consequences of shale gas extraction for the people and natural environment. Shale gas was in the focus of attention of the authorities in Kazakhstan and Moldavia which considered this hydrocarbon resource as the significant factor for diversification of hydrocarbon supply and ensuring independence of the Russian gas. “Shale revolution” was not neglected in Russia which had to take into account the shale gas factor in the world energy balance adjusting its policy respectively. USA made attempt to push its shale contracts in Russia, thus, ensuring access to the Russian gas market. On the one hand, Russia remained indifferent to the shale boom and went on implementation of its pipeline projects, but, on the other hand, it does not waive off absolutely the potential of this hydrocarbon resource.

In general, the post-Soviet countries regardless of the lack of a legislative base, technologies and unresolved environmental issues have shown certain interest in shale gas production. 

The emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union countries of the Caspian region have much in common in their resource and economic conditions. The dynamics of their development is also largely identical. Therefore, the article considers the processes of modernization of the Kazakhstan’s economy during the independence period as a typical state of the region. The author investigated the reasons for the choice of the resource model in the course of going to the world economy and the government actions on economic modernization and the beginning of the transition to innovation and industrial development.

One of the main objectives of the states located in the territory of arid regions is the timely obtaining solid and exhaustive data, the forecasts connected with the climatic phenomena, allowing to provide the timely organization of works on safety and prevention of possible damage to agriculture and in general all national economy. This task can be solved only in the presence of well adjusted, system of collecting, processing and implementation of information. For ensuring food security of the country it is necessary to provide the integrated control system of water resources at timely coordination of all stages of regulation on the basis of multiplefactor monitoring of indicators.

The increasing deficiency of water resources in basins of the cross-border rivers of the arid region of the republic demands introduction of the new scheme of management which would allow their use in the conditions of limitation.

Due to the formation of the new independent states need of improvement of the existing organizational forms of ownership and water resources management of the cross-border rivers which will be proved on rules of international law and the best practice of cooperation pools when sharing taking into account the interests of the adjacent countries of the region is caused. The main priority direction of the arid region of the republic is development of long-term programs, proved on a package of measures and actions for water economy, maintaining her quality and increase in an ecological situation of water management systems.

Now each country develops own strategies of water use which leads to strengthening of the competition for water, sharpening of deficiency of water and environmental problems, both on interstate, and at the regional level. Further, the issue of ensuring food security in the conditions of impact of climate change on agriculture is resolved. The existing risks connected with climate changes and ways of adaptation of agricultural production have been defined.

The main national policy of the republic is aimed at ensuring the food security with the balance of production. Considering features of the region and the available restrictions as: existence of the irrigated lands, their efficiency, limitation of water resources and their effective use has to be proved on universal introduction of water-conservation technologies of irrigation when carrying out complex reconstruction of irrigating systems and the principles of the integrated use of water resources. 

The South Caucasus region traditionally has an important role to play in global politics. This region for centuries has been an arena of confrontation for geopolitical and geostrategic interests between regional states and world powers; this affected the main transport routes, different cultures and religions. With the collapse of the USSR, the South Caucasus became an important and strategic place for Western countries; this bolstered the weakening of Russian influence in the region and the creation of a catalyst for further strengthening of its partners. Western countries sought to establish control over the extraction and diversification of Azerbaijani hydrocarbons. To fulfill these goals Western countries have relied on their ally Turkey, which also pursues its interests in the South Caucasus region.

Since the early 1990s, Turkey’s policy towards the countries of the South Caucasus has intensified. Turkey developed policies of expanding its influence in the region. These policies were complex; it included both economic, energy and cultural components. A key element of Turkey’s policy in the region was the energy aspect. In the issue of diversifying the energy resources of the South Caucasus Turkey has made significant progress by implementing projects of pipelines going through its territory, she achieved the status of an energetic conveyor. Another important area of Turkey’s policy in the South Caucasus was the cultural and educational aspect. It is based on the policy of «neo-Ottomanism», which includes elements of «pan-Turkism». The main purpose of this idea was to expand Turkey’s influence by educating pro-Turkic youth in the countries of the region, and also create a positive image for Turkey among various segments of the population that would support its policies.

The peculiarity of Turkey’s policy is a multilateral and flexible policy that includes both economic integration, energy cooperation, and a soft and effective policy that includes cultural interaction based on ethnic and linguistic similarity. 

One of the most complex problems for Central Asia is scarcity of fresh water and related transboundary water-sharing. The current situation is the result of countries` economic policy, lack of regional engagement on water use, global climate change, population growth and increased consumption of water resources, what has already influenced on reducing water availability.

Feature of Central Asian drainage system is extremely uneven distribution of water resources not only throughout the region, but also throughout each country, what does not let republics take full advantage of water resources in its ensuring of the national interests. The major water sources of the region located on the territory of two countries as Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajikistan, what causes difficulties in relations of these countries with Republic of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan. Furthermore, situation is compounded by different approaches of Central Asian countries to water use.

Since the early 1990s, water issues became a factor of regional security. The potential of conflict in current mechanisms for water distribution is notably high, that is why water issues one of the priorities on the list of Central Asian problems and requires constant monitoring. Despite many discussion and attempts to resolve regional water problem, the sides have not come to an agreement. Involvement of other countries and international organizations in development of water problem solution has not been successful.

With the election of a new President of Republic of Uzbekistan, there have been a warming of relations in the region and trend towards joint policy-making with respect to Central Asian development. That could have a positive impact on the situation with hydro-energy resources. 

The changeover of the ruling of the modern Ukrainian territory between East and West had lasted for around 800 years beginning from the Mongol-Tatar invasion. It was that time when Batu Khan defeated Ancient Rus that the present territory of Ukraine came under complete and absolute ruling of the Tatar East. In the 16th century as a part of Lithuania Ukraine was included into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and then passed under the rule of the Polish magnates, under the yoke of the Western Polish civilization. In 1569 the Union of Lublin was signed that formalized the accession of the Ukrainian territory to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the period from the 10th to the 19th centuries there was no such state as Ukraine on the world political map. In the 10th century some part of the territory of present Ukraine was taken by Kievan Rus, in the 13th century — by Golden Horde, in the 14th-15th centuries — by Lithuania, Golden Horde and Russia. In the next centuries the territory of Ukraine was controlled by the Ottoman Empire, Poland and Russia. And only in 1918 the state of Ukraine appeared on the political map.

Single Soviet Ukraine created by Bolsheviks did not present any internal cultural and language unity as it was always shared by different empires being the hostile and irreconcilable centers of force in Europe — the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russian Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In 1917-1920 about dozens of different republics were established in the territory of Ukraine. They were isolated within the borders of their formations. Accordingly, it may be said that in 1917-1920 Ukraine presented a mosaic of different formations which were often formed due to ambitions of some scoundrels and political adventurers striving to get to power and to become the leader of a state. But only the tough policy of Bolsheviks aimed to prevent the disintegration process permitted Ukraine to preserve its territory. After its election the Supreme Council started preparation of the Draft Declaration of Ukraine State Sovereignty simultaneously with the Draft Law on Ukraine State Sovereignty. Both drafts were considered in May 1990. After their discussion it was decided to develop the Draft Declaration of State Sovereignty.

On July 16, 1990 the Ukrainian Parliament after long discussions adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine by majority voting. This declaration which did not change and substitute the Constitution of Ukrainian SSR became a very important document for establishment of the Ukrainian statehood having laid the basis for the future Constitution of Ukraine.

The concept of the new Constitution of Ukraine envisaged the establishment of the presidential republic. As a result, in June 1991 the laws «On Establishment of the Office of President of Ukrainian SSR with Making Alterations and Additions in the Constitution», «On President of Ukrainian SSR” and “On Election of President of Ukrainian SSR». The office of president was established to strengthen the vertical of executive power and to make it in the future independent of executive power of union bodies. The law assigned broad authorities to the president. Thus, the president acquired the right to cancel the decisions of the USSR bodies of executive power in the territory of Ukrainian SSR if they contradicted its constitution.

By mid-1991 the legislative base was created in Ukraine which, in fact, made it an independent state as the laws adopted in 1990 and in the first half of 1991 brought out Ukraine from subordination to the USSR powers. The single economic, political and military space of the USSR practically ceased to exist. By this time Ukraine subordinated only nominally to union authorities. On August 24 the Extraordinary Meeting of Supreme Rada passed the Act on Declaration of Independence of Ukraine. That time it was also decided to conduct on December 01 the republican referendum to confirm the Act of Independence. This was done with a view to demonstrate to the union authorities that the Ukrainian people were endeavoring to become independent, thus, making legitimate the Act of Independence. After becoming independent in 1991 Ukraine entered the new stage of its development. The regional system of Ukraine revealed two clear poles — Donbass and Galichina which determined the country’s development for decades ahead.