Russia

The article is devoted to the study of medieval Scandinavian and domestic narrative sources for information about the peculiarities of the military confrontation and interaction between the Varangians and Ancient Rus.

In the article the issue of a contradictory perception of Balkan Slavs by Russians in the second half of 19th century is considered. On the one hand, the idea of Slavic unity has become stable in Russia which was actively supported by many Russian social and political public figures. On the other hand, when directly contacted Russians and southern Slavs appeared to be alienated and far from mental solidarity.

The activity on incorporation of the foreign works on social development of England into the intellectual space of Russia is analyzed in the article. The translations into Russian of the works of the outstanding European historians, political science specialists, lawyers, sociologists had become an important and natural respond to the social need in learning of the western and especially British experience, in comparison of the distinctive national development with the achievements of the other peoples.

The article presents the dynamics of Russian-German cooperation between the late 1990s and the first half of the 2000s. It is established that the relationship between Russia and Germany have developed in cycles because they had passed the phase of rise and fall. The official interpretation of the bilateral relations as strategic partnership can not be considered successful in view of the conflicts generated by the contradictions in the national interests of Russia and Germany.

The article examines the development of a dialogue between Russia and Germany regarding the recognition of the Sputnik V vaccine, the opinions of German and European politicians on this issue. The author comes to the conclusion that the mutual recognition of vaccines between Russia and Germany as one of the main actors of the European Union could be both the beginning of an improvement in the situation with the spread of the virus, as well as bilateral relations and relations between Russia and the EU as a whole. 

The article focuses on the Russian minister to Japan R. R. Rosen’s role at the negotiations that preceded the war of 1904 – 1905. Because of quite long stay at the diplomatic service in Japan, he could study Japanese interests in East Asia and the attitude of the Japanese society to the Russian Empire claims to the control over Manchuria and Korea thoroughly.

The article is devoted to American-Russian relations during the period of presidency of George W. Bush. The author focuses on the U.S. position on Russian-Iranian collaboration issue. The role of personal diplomacy of George W. Bush and V. Putin in the process of bilateral relations of U.S.A. And Russia is highlighted.

The article is devoted to the study of the geo-political changes in Central Asia. The expansion of China’s influence and Russia’s weakening are analyzed. The author defines the factors that Russia can oppose to the prospects for transforming this region into Pax Sinica

This article deals with the Eastern Partnership Program. It is an initiative of the European Union governing its relationship with the post-Soviet states – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Particular attention is given to border cooperation, including the Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation Support Programme

The article is devoted to the study of forming the new political environment in the Caspian region after the completion of the «Operation Iraqi Freedom» in May 2003. In the context of the American and Russian strategic plans, the attitudes of the Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan governments towards Moscow and Washington policies, as well as the influence of the new political environment on the Russian-American relations are also analyzed.