The article reveals the key particularities of the “soft” and “hard power” in the context of the “smart leadership” strategy in the world politics. This text examines the different aspects of the concept of “soft power”, its practical problems, and particularities of the public diplomacy, the limits and perspectives of “soft power” in the light of the internationalization of the Ukrainian crisis.

In the article difficult geopolitical processes are examined in the Black Sea region. An author spares the special attention the analysis of military-strategic pressure of evroatlantic block, its tool and mechanisms, «Turkish» and «Ukrainian» factors.

This article focuses on the role of the energy factor in the formation of foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The author conducted a brief analysis of the basic directions of Azerbaijan's oil and gas strategy, which play an important role for the energy security of the European Union. As noted in the article on the increase in competition between countries for influence and access to hydrocarbon reserves in the Caspian region.

In this work authors consider the integration processes in the former Soviet Union which allowed to create the economic and political organizations between the former federal republics. And also on the example of the Euroasian Economic Union positive tendencies in increase in economic capacity of the countries of participants are defined.

This paper investigates the mechanism of application of the political nepotism in formation of the Federation Council. It shows how the conditions for this process were created by making purposeful amendments in the federal law on formation of this chamber of the Russian Parliament. Currently, 90% of the body of the Federation Council and all its leadership are the members or apparent advocates of the Party “United Russia”. The formation of the Federation Council by means of political nepotism, and the Party “United Russia” is used as a tool for this purpose, enabled the Russian political establishment to “privatize” this supreme body of state power, to build it rigidly into the presidential “vertical of power” and to ensure its complete control by the ruling political regime.

The level of democratic development in three countries: the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Ukraine in comparative aspect; progress and cost of democracy; the uneven development level (degree) of democracy; the successes and defects of democratic reforms.

The article deals with the problems of national identity and nationalism in the ethers of non-governmental channels. Analyzes the major programs dedicated to these issues. Focus on the media as the main communication channel state, the government implements the idea of the creation of civic identity in Russia

The article deals with the religious preferences of citizens influencing the electoral choice of religious citizens. Reveals some of the means and methods of influence on voters by religious organizations. The attention on the actions of the Russian Orthodox Church. Showcased religious sympathies of the citizens of Russia to some politicians.

This paper addresses the burning issues related to formation and development of the cross-border cooperation. It analyzes the main obstacles faced on this way by the post-Soviet countries in their endeavor to extend such cooperation. The advantages of the cross-border cooperation are studied.

This paper investigates the period of Victor Yanukovich ruling. His economic policy allowed for keeping the situation under control, not admitting deterioration of the social conditions of the people. The internal and foreign policy was fraught with controversies which, finally, had led to a political crisis.

Videogames as a kind of entertainment have a mass nature in the modern world. This aspect involves the opportunity of political advertising and promotion of some kind of political views. This article reviews the political-communicative nature of videogames on the territory of Post-Soviet states.