Russia and Euro-Atlantic: Prospects for Future Relations

       The author focuses on the relationship between Russia and the Western community. What is Russia most leaning towards: the preferential relations with the rising China or a long term, strategic alliance with the Euro Atlantic states – the U.S. and the EU? Or, perhaps, it is in Russia's interests to maintain a policy of equidistance between the poles of power? The proposed article is talking about all the afore mentioned issues. Relations between Russia and the West are considered comprehensively, at different levels of interaction. In this context, in view of the priorities of contemporary politics of the Russian leadership, an important place in the analysis is attached to the problems of asymmetry of the intellec tual and technological capabilities of modern Russia as opposed to Euro Atlantic states. This asymme try is interpreted not only as the inequality of the material and technical conditions, but also as a gap in the level of social organization which can increase the existing backwardness of our country. The author assumes that the recent financial crisis, developments in the Arab world and international security envi ronment controversies can help not only the rapprochement between Russia and Euro Atlantic area, reducing the resulting gap between them, but in general can contribute to stabilizing the international political situation.
Keywords: Russia; the West; Euro-Atlantic; NATO; the European Union; modernization.

Scenarios for Evolution of Global Finance

       Global imbalances exert substantial influence on post crisis state of international finance. Based on modern methodology including game theoretic approach, scenario conditions of further international financial system development are proposed. The most plausible scenario presupposes gradual smooth ing of global imbalances. The Bretton Woods institutions maintain their significance, while subject to the reform aimed at consolidating the role of developing countries and emerging markets. This scenario spurs diversification of the Russian economy, yet, the formation of a financial center in Russia is con sidered improbable. The possible solution is an international financial cluster for the CEE and CIS countries with dominant role of Russian financial institutions and infrastructure.
Keywords: global imbalances, monetary and exchange rate policy, quantitative easing, international financial center

Knowledge-Based Economy as a Global Social Phenomenon

       The article deals with the formation of the information technologies theory and the influence of modern information technologies upon different sides of the social and economic life. The author draws attention to the principal changes in the behavior of key economic actors (consumers, firms, government) under the impact of new technologies and to the specific features in the government economic policy.
Keywords: information technologies; information economy; new economy; information cascades theory; digital divide; information proficiency; e-government; global governance.

The Concept of Global Problems Through Prisms of Political Developments in the 2000s

       The article presents a conceptually coherent approach to the notion and classification of the global problems in the early 2010s. The author proceeds from the assumption that it would be relevant to con sider as global those issues of international relations, which refer to the level on worldwide cooperation in the world at large, and therefore should not be constrained by the now prevailing narrower – socio logical view on the nature of global problems as related primarily to formation of subjects and threats of a new, cross border, non government type. Along with this understanding, in the author's opinion, it is important to emphasize the applicability of the term «global problem» to the level of interaction between leading world powers in the international arena, the quality of which can by itself either con tribute to resolution of the existing problems of humanity, or, conversely, to create additional areas of friction – that is, truly global problems.
Keywords: global problems; the world of the 2010s; world leading powers.

Targets and Challenges of University Community in Russia

“America Talk” Seminar. The Future of the US Economy

Public Diplomacy Discourse

China’s Global Information Policies

Asymmetries of the Internet-Based Political Space

“Smart Power” as a World Politics Tool

DISCUSSION

The Arab World: No More Fear, No More Lies

The US Foreign Policy and Popular Revolts in the Middle East

WORLD BUSNESS AND POLITICAL AUTHORITY

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Russia

PERSONA GRATA

Mikhail Gorbachev. The Man Who Granted Freedom

SCRIPTA MANENT

Reviews

Why We Need a Nuclear-Free World
David Cortright, Raimo Va..yrynen. Towards Nuclear Zero. London: International Institute for Strategic Studies – Arundel House, 2010. 182 p.

The Atlantic Alliance in the Age of Change
Gulnur Aybet and Rebecca R. Moore. NATO in Search of a Vision. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2010. 273 p.

NATO from the Practical Perspective
Collins Brian J. NATO. A Guide to the Issues. Santa Barbara, Denver, Oxford: Praeger 2011. 178 p.

A General IR Theory is Feasible
Основы общей теории международных отношений / Под ред. Маныкина А.С. М.: Издательство МГУ, 2009. 592 с.

International Relations Viewed from Japan
КУРОКАВА Сюдзи. Современная теория международных отношений. Токио: Кокусай сёин, 2010. 311 с.

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