The article focuses on the conceptual basis and peculiarities to realize the U.S. classical deterrence strategy under the conditions of the evolving strategic competition between USA. and China. At present the US leadership moves its emphasis from low intensity conflicts and hybrid warfare to the state conflict, in particular, probable one with China where deterrence plays a key role. A special attention is paid to the possibility of the deterrence application in the cyber sphere.

   The article examines the approaches of the leading political parties of the Federal Republic of Germany to the architecture of European security. In the context of preparations for elections to the Bundestag, discussions on security and peace issues under the influence of “Trumpism” are acquiring new content and dynamics, and sharp contradictions are emerging on the issue of dialogue with Moscow.

   The article shows the evolution of the concept of «political war» on the basis of doctrinal documents and the corpus of scientific literature. The theoretical framework, proposed for the first time by American diplomat J. F. Kennan, over the years of confrontation between the superpowers became the basis for Washington’s strategic planning of long-term and destructive, including covert operations to eliminate the influence of the USSR in various regions of the world. Conceptually, «political war» includes coercive diplomacy, financial and economic methods of pressure, information and psychological and military-political operations. In the conditions of the Cold War, this entire arsenal was repeatedly tested. Currently, it is directed against Russia in order to undermine its stability and political subjectivity.

   The article examines the problem of the emergence of new forces/new players in the global economy and politics. The author draws attention to the activation of the states of the World majority, which went through several stages in its development. The fleeting nature of the «monopolar» world is noted. The formation of a polycentric world order is considered as the development of the logic of the natural evolution of the world economy and global politics in the first quarter of the twenty-first century.

   The article is devoted to an overview of the state of strategic planning and policy in the USSR and Russia in recent decades, the quality of political decisions made and the ruling elite of the USSR/Russia.

   The article presents the author’s view on the features of civil society in the Western civilizational space. Universal characteristics contained in the theory of political science do not fully describe this phenomenon. The author tried to fill the gap in the specific context of the definition of Western civil society.

   The article presents a study of the current state of international interaction of border regions of the Russian Federation bordering on unfriendly countries. The assessment of the features of economic ties of the regions is carried out taking into account the existing developed legal support. Conclusions are also made about the possibilities of overcoming the consequences of anti-Russian sanctions by border regions of Russia.

   The article substantiates the relevance of studying the issues of political activity of young people, associated with the contradictory nature of their political behavior. An innovative type of political activity is considered in detail, characterized, on the one hand, by a significant expansion of the circle of participants and activists, on the other hand, by an increase in the number of passive observers. In conclusion, based on the theoretical analysis, the author’s definitions of the concepts of «political activity» and «political activity of Russian youth» are presented.

   The article discusses the political strategy for the introduction of artificial intelligence by the US government and its implementation in transportation, the strategic goals and objectives of the Department of Transportation, the problems of the transportation industry and their solutions with the introduction of artificial intelligence.

   Information analytics is an important component of the transformation of scientific cognition, which as a discipline and a way of mastering political practice is in a state of active development. Staff training is one of the most important problems.

   The article examines the specifics of planning the Crimean offensive operation (April 8 – May 12, 1944), analyzes the main difficulties during its preparation and conduct, reveals the military-political and strategic importance of the liberation of Crimea by the Red Army.

   The author analyzed the trend of regional integration associations after World War II, identified the factors influencing them, assessed the destructive policy of the United States and NATO not only on integration associations in which Russia participates, but also Europe. The article draws attention to the integration processes of regional and interregional levels in the historical perspective and in the conditions of global transformation in order to develop recommendations to take into account the experience and mistakes in strengthening the integration associations of the EAEU.

   The confrontation between Russia and the West is reflected in regions not directly involved in it. One of them is the Balkans. Using the metaphor of ranking power into players and figures, it is possible to identify the strategies of key and so far secondary external (national and supranational) actors in this historically active zone. The assessment of Russian prospects deserves special attention: it is obvious that Moscow will have to win back the decades of «oblivion» of the Balkan region through new projects, methods and technologies.