Vol 15, No 4 (2025)

The theoretical problems of national and state identity are considered, its significance for the stability of social systems is shown, approaches to solving existing scientific and practical problems are proposed and substantiated. The concepts of ethnos, nation and state, as well as the corresponding identities, are separated. The difference between the values of culture and ideology, the ways of their formation are revealed. Using the example of Russian history and modernity, the need to ensure their interrelation for the consolidation of the social system is substantiated.

Digital transformation challenges the traditional mechanisms of forming national-state identity. If its reproduction was previously concentrated in the hands of the state and institutions (education, culture, traditional media, etc.), today the key agents of influence are digital platforms, algorithms, and online communities. This creates fundamental challenges: fragmentation of the information space, growing distrust in information sources, transformation of civic engagement, and internal tension. The article analyzes the theoretical foundations of these changes: the decentralization of power in the network society, the formation of information bubbles and echo chambers, the dual role of platforms as spaces for both public consolidation and polarization, as well as the phenomenon of coexisting patriotic consensus and critical attitudes toward the authorities. The empirical basis – data from the nationwide sociological monitoring “How Are You, Russia?” – allows tracing how these processes manifest in real public consciousness. It is shown that trust in television correlates with optimism about the country’s future, while the online environment intensifies ambivalence. Civic engagement is shifting to digital formats, especially among the youth. At the same time, a high level of patriotism coexists with criticism of the authorities, indicating a differentiation of civic consciousness rather than its disintegration. It can be concluded that national-state identity in the digital age does not disappear but becomes a tense balance between trust and anxiety, loyalty and criticism, consolidation and fragmentation. This requires identity policy to abandon the monopoly on narrative and move towards its co-production with society.

The article examines the problems of transformation of national identity in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Identification processes in post-Soviet Kazakhstan are analyzed, forming a new identity under the influence of both external and internal factors of state development. In these conditions, a national identity can be a factor in the positive inclusion of an individual in the activities of the state, the development of activity in establishing social ties and a reasonable attitude to resources. Attention is focused on the competition of two types of identification projects – the formation and strengthening of Kazakhstani identity on the principle of citizenship and on the principle of ethnicity. The contradiction of ethnocultural and civic modality of identification processes is a fundamental contradiction of nationwide identity. The purpose of the study is to establish and identify the features of the formation of a national identity in Kazakhstani society. As a result of the study, the following conclusions were obtained: 1) the foundation of Kazakhstani identity and unity – national values based on cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity; 2) Kazakhstani identity and unity is a continuous generational process. It is based on the fact that every citizen, regardless of ethnic origin, connects his fate and future with Kazakhstan; 3) Kazakhstanis in most cases prefer ethnic and religious identity. Civic identity is mostly declarative and included at the primary level of self-perception.

This article is dedicated to analyzing the reception of Henry George’s doctrine in Russia through the works of S.D. Nikolaev, a translator and consistent advocate of his ideas. The author examines how George’s concept was adapted to the socio-political context of Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Unlike the well-known proponent of Georgism, L.N. Tolstoy, who interpreted George’s ideas primarily in an ethical framework, Nikolaev developed a practical plan for implementing the “single tax” reform under specific historical conditions. He proposed a system of land management through classless self-governing bodies, the introduction of an equalized land tax, and the abolition of all other taxes. The study demonstrates that Russian Georgism underwent a transformation due to the urgency of the agrarian question in pre-revolutionary Russia and the existence of a unique element of economic relations – the peasant commune. Analyzing Nikolaev’s works not only reconstructs the perception of the “single tax” in Russia and expands the understanding of Georgism as a political ideology but also identifies patterns in the transformation of political concepts within a foreign ideological context. The article deepens the understanding of the broader political landscape and the debates surrounding the land question in pre-revolutionary Russia.

This article primarily examines the importance of studying political consciousness as a phenomenon that can become the basis for the development and construction of Russia as a country of civilization. The article provides information on the achievements of Russian scientists who have contributed to the study of political consciousness. An important component of the article is to emphasize the fact that, based on the ongoing work with the population that existed during the Soviet era, in particular, on developments that made it possible to unite not only certain categories of the population, but also the entire society as a whole, scientists and politicians can borrow certain elements of social management of the past era to integrate them into modern realities. The article pays special attention to the importance of forming political consciousness with the expectation that the geopolitical changes taking place in the modern world can cause social upheavals, which can be leveled through the introduction of a well-structured system of political consciousness of the population, serving as a socio-psychological shield against possible future political turbulence.

This article explores approaches to building a university brand in the context of strategic positioning in higher education. The author examine’s three dominant brand strategies used by universities worldwide: mission-driven, product-driven, and consumer-driven. Through a comparative analysis of leading Russian (MGIMO, MSU) and international universities (MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale), the paper highlights the unique identity formation processes of academic institutions based on their mission, research output, and engagement with stakeholders. The authors further apply a market-based brand classification model – including Leadership, Challenger, Differentiation, Niche, and Follower strategies – derived from Gilligan & Wilson’s marketing framework. Using the case of the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH), the authors propose a step-by-step algorithm for developing a university positioning concept. The algorithm integrates the analysis of the university’s educational, research, and innovation models, corporate culture, and academic reputation. Based on this assessment, the Differentiation strategy is identified as optimal for RSUH, taking into account the university’s diverse educational portfolio and its humanities-focused identity. The article also presents methods for communicating the brand to key stakeholders through the Hero–Hub–Hygiene content model and an inverted funnel approach – both aimed at enhancing student experience and generating organic brand advocacy. The study concludes that in a competitive educational market, effective brand formation requires a coherent strategy rooted in the institution’s mission, supported by measurable strengths, and communicated through emotionally resonant and evidence-based messaging. The authors argue that positioning a university not simply as a provider of education but as a visionary institution addressing future societal challenges is crucial for long-term relevance and differentiation.

The subject of this article is the ways and methods of using digital technologies in the field of protection of CII facilities in Russia and foreign countries. The relevance and importance of the chosen topic lies in the rapid development of scientific progress in the field of development and application of information technologies in many areas of public life: medicine, economics, law, etc. The purpose of the article is to study and consider the features of using digital technologies to ensure the safety of CII both in Russia and abroad. The conclusion of the article is devoted to the need for active development and implementation of new ways and methods of using digital technologies in areas related to the protection of CII facilities in Russia.

The article explores key aspects of the interaction between digital mass media and public administration in the Russian Federation, highlighting the social, technological, and institutional factors that influence their effectiveness. The author analyzes current challenges, including digital inequality, fragmentation of digital infrastructure, and regulatory barriers that hinder transparent communication between the government and society. At the social level, the article emphasizes the need to enhance media literacy and develop inclusive programs to bridge the digital divide. The technological aspect is examined through the lens of data integration (including the “GosTech” platform) and the implementation of algorithms that promote the openness of public services. Institutional analysis focuses on reforming regulatory practices to strike a balance between information control and digital openness. The article is of practical value for government agencies, media experts, and digital governance researchers, offering a comprehensive approach to improving the effectiveness of public communications in the digital age.

The issue of systematization of international laws in the field of use in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly relevant. The progress of artificial intelligence technologies in international relations determines the need to clarify the legal boundaries of its development and use. The author in this article analyzes the main international legal acts and initiatives to regulate AI in modern world political practice. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of key international legal acts and initiatives aimed at regulating certain aspects of AI technologies. Based on the hypothesis that, firstly, the fragmentation and predominantly recommendatory nature of international acts on AI reduces the effectiveness of their implementation, and, secondly, that harmonization of approaches and the development of uniform mandatory norms will increase the effectiveness of global regulation of AI, the author conducts a comprehensive analysis of key international legal acts and initiatives aimed at regulating certain aspects of AI technologies. As a result, differences were revealed in legally binding documents (hard law), soft law documents and international standards in the field of AI; their areas of intersection are characterized with a focus on the ethics of using AI as the most cornerstone issue of the AI agenda; proposed recommendations for harmonization of existing standards.

This article examines the current positions and export potential of Russia in the global nuclear energy market. Particular attention is paid to the impact of nuclear power plants abroad. The author gives a general description of the problem of production and export supplies of nuclear fuel, as well as its disposal. The problems arising as a result of sanctions pressure on Russia in general and the nuclear industry in particular are revealed. The study found that Russia’s nuclear industry continues to successfully adapt to sanction pressures and geopolitical instability. Despite rising uranium prices and import restrictions from the United States and the European Union, Russia maintains a key position in the global nuclear fuel market and in the construction of power units abroad.

The theory of the issue of establishing mandatory conditions of employment contract is investigated. It is proved that the balance of interests of the parties to the employment contract is achieved not only through the legislative consolidation of mandatory conditions, but also through the creation of flexible mechanisms for their adaptation to the dynamics of real labor relations. Formal compliance with mandatory requirements, not supported by their synchronization with actual working conditions, gives rise to “legal dualism,” in which the contract loses the role of a living regulatory tool, turning into fiction mandatory conditions, but also through the creation of flexible mechanisms for their adaptation to the dynamics of real labor relations. Formal compliance with mandatory requirements, not supported by their synchronization with actual working conditions, gives rise to “legal dualism,” in which the contract loses the role of a living instrument of regulation, turning into fiction. The proposal is substantiated that the system of mandatory conditions of the employment contract should be supplemented by a legislated institution of dynamic compliance, obliging the parties to regularly adjust the contractual provisions in accordance with changing actual circumstances of work. This approach will make it possible to overcome formalism, prevent a hidden deterioration in the position of the employee and ensure a true balance of interests – not as static equality, but as a process of continuous coordination within the legal framework. The author concludes that the legal regulation of labor relations in the Russian Federation, based on the norms of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, is a complex mechanism aimed at harmonizing the interests of the employee and the employer. The state, establishing imperative requirements for the content of the employment contract, actually determines the “rules of the game” beyond which the parties cannot build their relationships.

This article analyzes the specifics of building a rehabilitation system for people with disabilities in the industrially developed countries of the world. The key trends in the formation and functioning of the institution of comprehensive rehabilitation in modern realities are considered, and the main terms and categories that reveal the content of modern methods of social support for people with disabilities abroad are provided. The results of the study show that supporting citizens with disabilities is becoming one of the most important priorities in the social policies of modern countries at the stage of society’s transformation. Addressing the challenges of social integration and supporting people with disabilities is seen as a foundation for promoting sustainable social well-being for the entire population, particularly for those groups that are most vulnerable to social and economic risks. In the context of economic fluctuations and the increasing importance of public health, this area is becoming increasingly significant, as improving health and minimizing the consequences of disability directly impact the quality of life and the duration of active participation in society. Comprehensive rehabilitation, which combines a wide range of medical, social, psychological, labor, and educational measures, is now considered the optimal strategy for restoring and returning people with disabilities to a full life. It can provide individuals who have been affected by illness or injury with the necessary conditions to return to their usual activities, employment, and integration into their communities, families, and society as a whole. A review of current foreign scientific approaches to the rehabilitation of people with disabilities highlights the need for a review and further improvement of the Russian system of medical and social support. The formation of a new model of comprehensive rehabilitation and social protection in Russia, based on an integrative approach, will increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures and ensure more effective socialization and inclusion of people with disabilities in public life.

The article analyzes the current military situation in Russia and its three integral hypostases: Courage. Mercy. Mutual assistance. This aggregated triad is the main driver of the modern male breakthrough in the framework of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the relevance of the emphasis in the article on identifying the “Triad of Male Breakthrough” and analyzing the social effectiveness of personnel and military potential in the current military situation. Considering that this topic is new for our time, information and research on it are rare, but many are already freely available from official scientific sources and the media. Based on this, it is extremely timely to study and analyze this topic while it is still hot in order to understand how correctly the coordinates of actions in the country were set to change the direction of the approach to working with military personnel of the male population and the effective protection of our state. This problem is of great importance for every Russian, as well as a person thirsty for understanding and justice to resolve the issue of security of the population of Russia. The article contains three parts. The logic of the presentation is as follows. First, the term “Courage” is analyzed in the context of the SMO, its development in Russia. Then the terms “Mercy” and “Mutual Assistance” are considered. The article is written on the basis of federal laws and other regulatory legal acts, analysis of official statistics on the above three positions. Modern society is in the era of general demographic transformation, when humanity inhabiting the planet radically changes the principle of its development and reverses, limiting its resources for population reproduction. Alternation occurs. This significant event in the history of the planet manifests itself primarily in the dynamic change of the institution of military potential. This statement exposes the problems of this study and reveals the essence and purpose of the analysis of this topic. In addition to analyzing new data, the purpose of the study is to confirm the relevance and effectiveness of the existing triad “Courage. Mercy. Mutual Assistance” and to show that in Russia there is a clear breakthrough in revealing the modern male character against the background of changes in the personnel military potential during the Special Military Operation. The scientific work provides a comparative analysis of current indicators in the military-industrial complex, medicine, IT and military personnel in Russia.

In the context of the rapid digitalization of modern society, financial culture is becoming a significant factor in the social differentiation of young people. The purpose of this study is to identify and theoretically substantiate the typology of Russian youth, reflecting the degree and features of the use of digital technologies in financial and economic interactions. The theoretical basis of the work is based on the conceptualization of financial culture as a complex system of knowledge, value orientations and practical models that determine the behavior of individuals in the field of money management. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between financial culture and digital literacy, considered as an important element of social capital. The empirical basis of the study was made up of data from an online survey conducted in 2024–2025 involving 883 respondents aged 18 to 35 from 21 regions of the Russian Federation. A stratified sample was used in the study, which ensured the representativeness of the results. Additionally, the paper analyzes the existing theoretical approaches and sociological concepts of the study of financial culture. As a result of the study, four stable types of financial behavior of young people in the digital environment have been identified. The results of the study. The comparative analysis demonstrated the close relationship of the identified typology with the level of education, income and territorial affiliation of the respondents. The results obtained confirm that the digital involvement of young people is becoming a new stratification marker that determines the prospects for social mobility and requires the development of targeted educational and social policy measures.

The article describes a post-platform model of managing a documentary film ecosystem using the example of the Master of the Game project, interpreting the film itself as an active node of circulation of cultural and transgenerational memory. The theoretical framework combines the ideas of ecosystem management, the field of cultural production, social and communicative memory, historical locations, as well as practical narrative engineering and the logic of hybrid media distribution. The methodological sequence of stages is described: semantic mapping and ordering of sources, the use of narrative techniques of mirror comparison and rhyming of motifs, ethical filtering with recording of decisions and transparency of the use of artificial intelligence tools, formative assessment through an agreed system of metrics at the level of the scene, work and the wider cultural environment, and then re-enrichment of the archival array based on the audience’s reaction. The use of generative AI is limited by cognitive support and is accompanied by directorial control, increasing the accuracy of semantic and visual narration. The director’s competency model includes and is consistent with current trends in digital transformation, digitization of heritage, impact measurement and personalized cognitive media consumption.

The article attempts to find an answer to the current pressing question: is the collective West really using religion to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia in the context of the Ukrainian crisis in the spiritual and moral sphere? Using the ideas and opinions of several researchers as arguments, the article demonstrates the coordinated and purposeful efforts of Western ideologues to undermine the foundations of religious unity among Russians and to use religious values as a means of geopolitical struggle against Russian statehood, including during the special military operation. This circumstance necessitates the mobilization of the efforts of all actors in Russia’s social development to counter the West’s attempts to undermine the spiritual unity and cohesion of Russian society in the current context of civilizational confrontation.