The article analyzes historical examples of the XX–XXI centuries, showing inconsistent, contradictory foreign policy of “double standards” of Western countries. The sources of such a policy are: a) the dominance of their own economic and geopolitical interests over the interests of small and medium-sized countries of less economically developed societies; b) reproducing colonial thinking and concepts of hegemonism, which currently determine the political decisions of Western countries; c) attempts to return the world to a unipolar model, putting in economic and military-political dependence on other countries. The example of the “US National Security Strategy” shows how these policies are manifested and consolidated in state strategic documents.

The article attempts to determine the significance for China of intensifying its relations with the countries of the Central Asian region, primarily those bordering it – with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. For the countries of Central Asia, cooperation with China is essential for their development. The author comes to the conclusion that the priorities of China’s policy in Central Asia are the support of stability, security, as well as the access on a mutually beneficial basis to Central Asian energy resources and the further development of economic ties. In the sphere of economic cooperation, the investment activity of China in the region is considered. The cultural and humanitarian aspect of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and China is also highlighted: this is the cooperation of regions, educational institutions, the media, art groups, interaction in the field of science, technology, medicine, tourism, etc.

The article examines the first years of interstate interaction of the Turkicspeaking states of Central Asia through the prism of constructivism. The evolution of the “Turkic World” construct is traced from the ideas firstly proposed by N.A. Nazarbayev and T. Ozal to the decision to establish a secretariat for meetings of Heads of States. The role of the Turkic factor as a component of regional international relations is revealed. The results of the study indicate the possibility of implementing integration projects in the international political sphere within the framework of the constructivism paradigm, where not only the construct, but also its institutionalizing foundation exist due to the fact that individuals agree to observe conditional rules and to act as if that rules exist, while historically established connections are not an absolutely necessary component of such integration. At the same time, the Turkic factor in Central Asia can be considered as one of the institutionalizing components for regional international relations.

The National Research Institute for Development Communications (NICRUS) initiated an expert project «Models of cross-border cooperation: current theoretical and methodological approaches». Within the framework of it, leading scientists and experts on integration and regional development conducted an analysis of topical issues and approaches to the study of cross-border cooperation. The article presents the main theses of the project’s foresight session and an expert assessment of trends in cross-border cooperation in the context of the transformation of the world order.

The article presents the results of a study of the controllability of the communication regime of the Republic of Moldova, carried out on the basis of a special methodology for comparative studies of country communication regimes. The main components of the communication mode, indicators of controllability, the location of the decision-making center, the degree of conventionality are analyzed. The peculiarities of the normative regulation of the communication regime, the system of its actors, the centers of influence on the communication regime of Moldova are examined. The problems of the communication regime in the country are revealed: non-execution of laws regulating communications and information; the concentration of the media in the hands of a narrow circle of persons and political forces; politicization of information; preferential rebroadcasting of foreign media content; low level of media literacy of the population; weak influence of civil institutions on the legislative regulation of the communication regime. The idea is affirmed that the communication regime is conditional on the political regime and that the communication regime of Moldova depends on external actors.

The article presents a number of unknown facts from the history of the Simbirsk Volga region in the second half of the 19th century. They make it possible to show the origin and development of historical and cultural processes in the Silinsky volost of the Ardatovsky district. The features of the geographical location and climatic conditions of the territory, the occupations of the local population (gardening, horticulture, beekeeping, industry, handicrafts, other crafts, etc.) are shown. Attention is focused on the welfare and health of peasants, their poll - tax, redemption funds, payments and other expenses connected with household life, habits, including deviant behavior, are considered. The spiritual and moral practices that existed in the province, Christian beliefs and rituals of observing ancient customs during wedding ceremonies, burials, rituals to combat epidemics, which remain outside the field of view of the scientific community, are presented.

The article is devoted to Sri Lanka, one of the zones of strategic interests of China and India. Both Asian states are forming new consumer markets, building new sea corridors, and in the busiest maritime trade corridor in the world – the Indian Ocean, their competition for control over key transport arteries is becoming more and more evident. In the current conditions, the value of control over logistics is determined not so much by the volume of trade and benefits, as by the ability to consistently generate added value. Thus, Sri Lanka, being at the center of the strategic priorities of India and China in South Asia, turns into a zone of vital interests of the two Asian dominant forces. The study shows the weaknesses and strengths of Sri Lanka, which can affect the further balance of relations between the three states.

The article examines the historical ties between the peoples of Russia and Uzbekistan both in a bilateral and multilateral format within the CIS, their historical unity during the Great Patriotic War, in the post-war period and today. “Friendship of peoples” is considered as a socio-political value and economic foundation of international relations between Russia and Uzbekistan. The author shows that the historical potential of “friendship of peoples” as a post-Soviet phenomenon has not been sufficiently studied. In some countries, the elites are underutilizing the historical potential of “friendship of peoples” as a post-Soviet phenomenon. Understanding the significance of the “friendship of peoples” is a test of state maturity in the conditions of the modern multipolarity of the world.

The article considers a particular case of the evolution of state formations in the process of the increment and loss of territories, caused by the implementation of the people’s right to reunification. It analyzes successful and unsuccessful attempts to implement the people’s right to reunification while the states are returning their historical territories and realizing the policy of irredentism. The author analyzes the historiography of the issue in Russia, Eurasia and Africa, examines various cases of accession of territories in the XVIIXXI centuries, including the reunification the Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with Russia. The author substantiates the need to amend the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, providing for the right of Russia to return historical territories in the case of discrimination of the Russianspeaking population, manifestations of neo-Nazism and Russophobia.

The article analyzes the text of the report of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which Xi Jinping delivered at the XX Party Congress, in the context of the current state and prospects of the foreign policy strategy of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the challenges to the country’s foreign policy in recent years. Based on the results of the analysis of the report, changes in China’s strategic positions are discussed. It is concluded that the main strategy of the foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China as a whole will remain unchanged: the country in foreign affairs relies on the domestic political situation, the ideology of the Communist Party of China and the role of the national leader, openness, modernization of the system and the potential to ensure national security and social stability. The main challenge for the People’s Republic of China remains the Taiwan issue, which is supposed to be resolved peacefully in the “one countrytwo systems” format, but the use of force is not ruled out. Relations with the United States of America are defined as a restrained global confrontation without open counteraction. The Russian-Chinese strategic partnership is understood as the choice of the People’s Republic of China, which meets its national interests, which will contribute to the formation of a multipolar model of the modern world. The actualization of the country’s foreign policy strategy at the XX Congress of the CPC is shown in its dynamics and comparison with previous strategies.