In recent years, the countries of the Caspian region have sought to expand regional cooperation in energy and transport spheres. For a long time, these areas of cooperation were not being developed, which negatively affected the regional economy. The revision of the existing approaches of regional countries to cooperation is dictated by the growth of problems of economic development of each country. Non-regional states have a continuing interest in the Caspian region. First of all, they are interested in projects aimed at diversifying the supply of hydrocarbon resources from the region to foreign markets. In turn, the construction of new export pipelines is considered by the countries of the Caspian region as a way of strengthening their geopolitical positions and realising socio-economic projects. New pipelines not only can create additional opportunities for the delivery of oil and gas from the region to foreign markets, but also can radically change the balance of power. This explains the increased attention to the issues of production and export of hydrocarbon resources.

At the same time, the revision of the energy policy of the regional countries, which began in the 1990s, did not reduce their dependence on non-regional states that act as final consumers or transit countries for oil and gas. The construction of new pipelines broke Russia’s monopoly over the export of hydrocarbon resources from the regional countries to foreign markets. However, the decline of Russian influence was compensated by Iran and China, which got the opportunity to influence the regional countries through pricing mechanisms and volumes of purchased hydrocarbon raw materials. For this reason, the regional countries are in favor of a further increase in the number of new pipelines, believing that their construction will expand opportunities for oil and gas exports and will reduce dependence on neighboring states.

In such country as Israel with its high industrialization and urbanization rates the environment protection is of key importance for preserving the biodiversity of nature. Awareness of the need to protect precious natural resources and landscapes of Israel forced to pass numerous laws on protection of nature and wild animals. These laws provide legal basis for protection of environment, natural resources, wild animals, unique nature features and places being of scientific and educational value in this country.

Israel locates at the juncture of three continents combining different climatic and botanical regions which have led to appearance of the unique, by diversity and composition, plant and animal world. In Israel you can find 2800 plant varieties (of which 150 are endemics), 8 species of amphibia, 80 species of reptiles, 450 species of birds and 70 species of mammals. For protection of natural biodiversity there were established 224 nature preserves and 203 and historical heritage deserves special mention.

In the recent years the governmental and public organizations have focused on development of the programs on environment management for monitoring and ensuring the required quality of water and air and for processing and utilization of solid wastes.

Quite spectacular achievements are observed in reintroduction of predatory and bible species, protection of sea turtles, impoundment of the Hula valley and preservation of migratory birds. The government’s initiatives were welcomed by the public that joined in national parks which cover around 23% of the territory of Israel. The nature preserves and national parks represent the whole range of the natural heritage of Israel: Mediterranean forests, coastal and water landscapes, sand dunes, desert and crater landscapes and oases, while the unique archeological these activities. The environmental education, awareness and activities of the society have increased enormously which is proved by the growing number of nongovernmental environmental organizations — from a few in the 1990s to over one hundred nowadays. The greater attention is paid to collection and publication of environmental data.

Recent years have become a time for the Eurasian space to rethink integration priorities. The existing associations in the post-Soviet space were not able to fully cover the entire range of interests of countries and not all countries were ready for even closer integration. An important task of forming and strengthening of the EAEU, the most successful integration is to create «outer contour» of the Eurasian integration and the development of bilateral relations with third countries, including developing a system of trade-economic relations with partners outside the EAEU. In this regard, considering the prospects of cooperation between the EAEU and border States, on the example of Tajikistan, is an urgent and timely task.

The Republic occupies a special place in integration projects in the post-Soviet space and is located on the periphery of the CIS. But, having difficult geographical and natural conditions, and possessing considerable geopolitical, economic, demographic potential, the country has no real opportunities for their use.

Awareness of the importance and necessity of integration with stronger and economically developed States is justified by the fact that the Republic, like other countries in the region, is in the zone of political, economic and military interests of the largest world powers (Russia, the United States, Europe, China, India).

The analysis of Tajikistan’s bilateral economic relations with each of the EAEU countries shows, that only Russia and Kazakhstan have stable trade and investment ties with it. In this regard, the factor of the EAEU is not yet decisive in the foreign economic priorities of Tajikistan, which is highly dependent on other international partners, primarily China. But the search for new formats of interaction in the Eurasian space can provide the Republic with a stable economic situation.

The Kingdom of Belgium is a Federation in terms of its territorial and administrative structure. Federalism in Belgium has a number of specific features, since it is based on the principles of division not only on the national and administrative principle, but also on linguistic. The main contradictions within the nation-state are related to the interaction of Walloon (French-speaking) and Flemish (speaking Dutch and its dialects) communities. The current situation in the country has developed as a result of a number of state reforms carried out in the second half of the XX — early XXI century. At present, the crisis in Belgium remains unresolved, primarily due to the imbalance in the economic development of the regions and the growing conflicts in this regard and the special status of bilingual Brussels. The situation is complicated by the presence of a German-speaking community in the state. The article assesses the prospects for the development of the situation in Belgium in terms of the transformation of the system of federalism in the country.

In the 90-s of the XX-th century under active participation of Russia mechanisms of international cooperation were formed in the regions of Baltic Sea, Barents, Caspian, Black Sea and Arctic region. At the beginning they had different aims. With the time these platforms have gone through evolution with their agendas and functional principles becoming alike. At the time of turbulent transition of the international affairs such associations can play a positive, consolidating role and contribute to further strengthening the ties between participating countries on pragmatic basis of finding solutions for common regional problems.

The article discusses the Euro-Atlantic vector of Croatian foreign policy, primarily the historical path of the state into NATO and the advantages of membership in this alliance. The Republic of Croatia in its history experienced a rather difficult period associated with the Croatian War for Independence, which began in 1991 after the state announced its withdrawal from the SFRY. Since then, one of the main goals of Croatian foreign policy has been joining the Euro-Atlantic structures, which was fulfiled in 2009, when Croatia became a full member of NATO. Based on the experience of the War for Independence, for the Republic of Croatia this membership is an important factor in ensuring the country’s security, and it can also help improve interstate relations in the Balkans and strengthen stability in the region. The work will also outline the operations and missions in which Croatia participates within the NATO framework and contributes to the successful implementation of Euro-Atlantic foreign policy.

The article is devoted to the study of the national identity of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article analyzes the main factors affecting the emerging national identity of the modern Republic of Kazakhstan. Thus, we study a complex process involving many stages, it is obvious only when the ratio of two different identities: civil and national, the most important part of the process of integration of which is the exchange of its elements. The article also provides an assessment of the effectiveness of the state strategy in this area, describes the presence of two main strategies of national-state construction and, accordingly, the dominant models of national identity. The first strategy is aimed at the formation of a single Kazakh nation from a multi-ethnic society on the basis of common citizenship, the second strategy is related to the national identity of the Kazakhs themselves. The prerequisites for the formation of an integral model of national identity as the Foundation for further modernization of society on the basis of civil consolidation and political stability of society, allowing to ensure the priorities of state-building and socio-economic development, preservation of civil peace and spiritual harmony, strengthening of the international authority of the state.

The need to study the experience of political modernization in Kazakhstan is determined by the fact that the modern Russian Federation largely exhausted the inertial potential of the 1990s, trying to build a model of political modernization, which took into account the national (Russian), world (Western) and regional experience of political and social reforms.

The aim of the study was to identify the features of political modernization in Kazakhstan. Based on this goal the following tasks were solved:

• to define theoretical and methodological aspects of political modernization;

• to identify the features of the study of political modernization in modern political science;

• to study the basic concepts of political modernization and features of modernization processes in posttraditional societies.

To implement the above goals and solve problems were used methods of discourse analysis. That is why the theoretical and methodological basis of the work is based on the methods developed in the framework of studies of political modernization.

This article analyses the foreign policy of Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova as well as the evolution of institutional establishment in the region of the Danube. Research shows that the Danube Commission is the main platform for policy coordination but at the same time the interstate dialogue on regional problems is maintained at other levels, by implementing the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and establishing Euroregions for cross-border cooperation. Considering this, it is necessary to specify the concrete spheres of cooperation between the countries: the development of transport, infrastructure, communication, as well as cooperation in environmental protection and the humanitarian field.

The article draws attention to certain factors that determine the moderate character of the relations between the countries of the Triangle “Romania–Ukraine–Moldova”. First and foremost the problems of bilateral cooperation, second — the existing external and internal conditions.

In this regard, the author specifies certain risks that the countries of the region face. It is difficult to resolve disputes between the states because of their different statuses. It is also worth noting that ignoring strategic risks can also lead to transport isolation.

The article compares the problems of two strategically important regions for Russia — the Caspian region and the Arctic region. Despite the fact that there are some significant geographical and climate differences, the geopolitical situation in the regions is similar. There are almost identical risks in the development of these regions. Special attention is paid to the issue of ecology in the conditions of active oil and gas production. The question concerning the instruments of regulation of interstate relations is sharply raised. International cooperation is essential in addressing key issues in the regions, such as improving socio-economic conditions, energy distribution and border management. In particular, it is necessary to define a regulatory framework that would meet the new realities in the Arctic. As for the international legal status of the Caspian sea, it was settled by the adoption of the Convention following the summit in 2018. The main difference is that the Caspian region was exposed to the anthropogenic factor much earlier. The lessons learned from the work in the Caspian region can be used in the Arctic region, which can reduce some of the risks associated with the interaction of coastal countries.

The article highlights the premises of cooperation and further development of relations between the Republic of Cuba and a number of key stakeholders in the global stage. The article analyzes the materials on this issue and reveals the trends in the country’s position on the subject of economic, political, social and other types of cooperation.

The article points out the prerequisites and ways of developing the Republic of Cuba foreign policy, with the participation of which positive results were achieved on a number of international issues, in particular on the issue of international conflicts in a number of countries. The article reviews the characteristics of relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba, characteristic of the declared time period. The article focuses the reader’s attention on such aspects as: the position of Cuba on key international issues, the signing of agreements with actors in international relations and the Cuba pivotal international interests.

The article summarizes the positive dynamics of the relations development at the present stage with the countries of the Caribbean, African countries, as well as cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in countries such China, which, in general, stresses of the growing influence of the Republic of Cuba at the world level.

The Slovak Republic (SR) established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Belarus (RB) in January 1993. Bilateral relations between two Slavic countries, which are historically not burdened with negative experience or problems, are developing in several areas. In recent years, an unprecedented development of Slovak-Belarusian relations can be observed, which is mainly associated with an active political dialogue between the two countries. Bilateral relations are developing in the fields of economics, education, tourism, as well as in the cultural sphere.

The main pillar of Slovak-Belarusian cultural ties is the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Culture and Art, which was concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus in 2005 in Minsk. Currently, there is close cooperation between individual cultural institutions in the field of music, fine arts, literature, as well as intensive cooperation between museums, galleries and libraries. Cultural cooperation between the SR and BR is so actively supported not only by the Slovak and Belarusian ministries of culture, but also by diplomatic missions in both countries.

An important milestone in the intensification of mutual cultural ties is the exhibition dedicated to O.P. Mariks, the founder of Belarusian theatrical scenography of Slovak origin, in Bratislava in 2018, the exhibition by Z. Graus Rudavsky “Touch of Slovakia. Picture. Object. Jewel” in Minsk in 2016, the publication of translations of the poems of the great Belarusian poet Y. Kupala in 2017, as well as the publication of publications by the Belarusian author N. Trus about the visit of a Belarusian writer to the territory of modern Slovakia in 1935.

Great potential for mutual Slovak-Belarusian cultural cooperation can be observed in the exchange of traditional folklore ensembles. Musical groups present their cultural heritage at various cultural events that are held not only in Slovakia (Slavica Festival, Dozhinki — festival-fair of toilers of the village, etc.), but also in Belarus (Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk; etc.). Opportunities for cooperation between the SR and Belarus, i.e. culturally and geographically similar countries are very wide. The aim of the article is to identify the specifics and dynamics of Slovak-Belarusian cultural cooperation at the present stage.