The article analyzes the main events leading up to the outbreak of World War II (1941,1945), reveals the features of preparations for this war of Nazi Germany and its satellites, as well as the Soviet Union, formulates conclusions and lessons explaining the significance of this period of World War II in the general history of the development of society.

The destruction of the world socialist system was not a chain of random events, but a carefully planned and prepared process. One of the crucial factors in the destabilization of communist regimes in European countries were the loans from Western and international banks. Creditor dependence caused sharp deterioration of the social-economic climate, which triggered political transformations. The only country that was able to get rid of the Western economic strangler largely on its own was socialist Romania. Being based on sources little-known to Russian-speaking researchers the article argues that N. Ceauşescu’s successful policy of paying out Romania’s debt and thus of preserving his country’s sovereignty determined the launch of the hardest coup d’etat scenario.

The article is devoted to the analysis of popular political humor as a tool for critical perception by public opinion of the conditions of life that are directly determined by the political power sphere and its personifying subjects - the government, parliament and law enforcement agencies.

Irreversible changeover of Universities to online education is not expedient unless absolutely necessary. Hybrid approach with flexible combination of online lectures and full-time practical classes is more reasonable.

The article uses the materials of sociological research and within the framework of political-historical and political-cultural approaches the specifics of the political culture of the CIS countries is determined, which has a significant impact on their domestic policy. It is concluded that the concept of cultural trauma makes it possible to identify and explain such features of the political culture of the CIS countries as discontent, loneliness, distrust, fear, alienation of citizens from active political life, disbelief in their own strength.

The article continues the discussion about the relationship between law and technology in the digital age. Problematic issues related to the use of convergent technologies and their impact on the life of modern society are raised. Proposals are formulated to improve the regulatory function of law in order to ensure sustainable social development.

Education plays an important role in the implementation of China’s «One Belt, One Road» Initiative. The policy of internationalization of higher education in China has increasingly shifted towards «going outside» through the promotion of professional training programs, principles of training organization, technologies, and standards into the educational practice of partner countries. At the same time China is expanding educational cooperation with the countries of the Silk Road area. The article analyzes the Chinese educational policy within the framework of the Initiative, its goals and principles, and the main trends of Chinese-Mongolian cooperation in the field of higher education.

Modern Mongolia, having adopted a multi-vector foreign policy concept, designated a group of foreign policy partners: Central Asia, Russia, China and the Asia-Pacific region. A unique country with unexplored reserves of mineral resources, Mongolia has become a platform of open rivalry between the United States, Russia and China. Mongolia of XXI century makes good use of both Russian and Chinese factors for its economic development.