Introduction. Achieving national goals requires reducing the dependence on commodity exports based on the diversification of the economic structure, which has its own characteristics in regions with different industrial specialization, having a different impact on labor productivity. The purpose of the article is to determine the impact of diversification of the regional sectoral structure on the level and dynamics of labor productivity in the regions. Materials and Methods. In the first block, the impact of economic diversification on the dynamics of labor productivity and economic activity in the regions was assessed. I. In the second block, the assessment of the impact of the development of regional of types of economic activities of specialization and types of economic activities of the reserve of specialization was carried out by assessing the levels of labor productivity, innovation activity and export orientation of types of economic activities. The structural and sectoral typology of regions was used to form differentiated proposals on regional policy priorities. Results. The estimates obtained for 2010‒2021 showed the absence of a pronounced rigid relationship between the nature of changes in labor productivity and the level of economic diversification in Russia’s regions: geographically differentiated combinations of them were identified, which determines the need for a selective approach to determining the priorities of state support for regions. Discussion and Conclusion. The practical implementation of the study should be the clarification of the priorities of the state regional policy to support the effective diversificationof of the economy of the Russian regions based on the accelerated development of their new specialized industries with high levels of innovation activity and export orientation. The prospects of the study are related to the substantiation of specific mechanisms to support the advanced development of a complex of high-tech types of economic activity in the regions.

Introduction. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need for a practical solution to the problem of communication assessment of local government bodies with the population in social media. The lack of an effective methodology for such an assessment and its results increases the importance of this work. The purpose of the article is to analyse the success of communication of the executive authorities of the municipal entities of the Ural Federal District with the population on the official pages of the social network “VKontakte” and to offer the success index. Materials and Methods. The authors used the database of official accounts of municipal, municipal district and municipal area administrations (n = 203) and heads of corresponding municipalities (n = 198) of the regions of the Urals Federal District in the social network “VKontakte”. The data were collected using the parsing tool Cerebro 3.0; the data were analyzed using both standard indicators of social network analysis and those proposed by the authors. The index method was used to summarize the data. This approach made it possible to systematize and aggregate heterogeneous information in order to compare the objects of analysis. Results. The authors have developed and tested on the materials of the regions of the Urals Federal District a methodology for calculating the index of success of communication between local governments and the population in the social network “VKontakte”. It has also been demonstrated that higher publication activity does not unequivocally lead to more successful communication outcomes. It is revealed that in most cases, municipalities with small populations are the most successful communicators. It is noted that subscriber engagement is higher in the accounts of heads of municipalities compared to the accounts of municipal administrations. Discussion and Conclusion. The authors’ proposed methodology for assessing the success of local government communications helps to identify the most successful practices, differentiate municipalities and regions. The index allows to go from evaluation of information openness to analysis of content published and recommendations on how to what content is needed to be more successful in communicating with the public. The results of the study will be useful for state and municipal employees involved in communication with the public.

Introduction. The relevance of the research is conditioned by the presence of a sustainable institutional request of the authorities and the public sector regarding the development of youth civic potential. However, young people demonstrate an inert format of mobilisation of social activity resources. The aim of the study is to analyse the dynamic environment of student volunteer activity. Young people’s choices and evaluations of the content, scope and variety of voluntary activities shows obvious vectors of typical choice, resource uniqueness, and also demonstrates examples of a number of typological regional areas and topics. Materials and Methods. The study used a systems approach and structural-functional analysis in order to substantiate the issue of regional student volunteering. . The basis for the analysis was the results of the authors’ own research on the topic: “Volunteer activity of student youth in Kuzbass” (n = 715), conducted in 2023–2024, reports on the implementation of volunteer projects in the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass for 2022. Results. The implementation of volunteer activities in the region can be carried out in a consolidated manner or have multidirectional vectors for applying the activity and resource potential of student youth. The conditions of socio-political communication determine a certain dynamics, intensity, and temporality of volunteer activities. Analysis of the results of a questionnaire survey among young people revealed a contradiction: respondents offer recommendations for practical improvement in the organization of volunteer activities, but find it difficult to identify the subjects of implementation of these changes. Discussion and Conclusion. Student volunteering is defined as an interaction that is built in the form of interactive multifunctional relationships, when the interests of the parties involved are interconnected in a combination of requests from the drivers of volunteering, stakeholders and experts, as well as the performers of the volunteer role themselves. The results obtained are of practical significance for volunteer organizers, regional supervisors, authorities, directly to regional volunteer communities and young people.

Introduction. The concept of circular agricultural production is a promising trend for ensuring food security and reducing current negative environmental effects. The aim of the study is to analyse the prospects for the development of a circular economy in the agricultural sector of the Krasnodar Territory in the new institutional environment. Materials and Methods. The research process used the methods of critical analysis of modern literature, analysis of official statistical data, regulatory and programme documents that form the institutional framework for the development of closed-loop economy in agriculture. The main regulatory and program documents influencing the current and future institutional transformations of a circular economy in agriculture and the valorization of generated agricultural waste are analyzed. Results. The differential characteristics of the concept of circular agricultural production are determined; the basic principles and limitations of a circular economy in agriculture are highlighted, as well as the benefits and costs of a circular transition in agriculture. Some specific characteristics of agricultural production in Krasnodar Territory are described, which determine the priority of implementing circular practices. Discussion and Conclusions. It has been revealed that the emerging model for managing the circular transition in agricultural production in our country has a “top-down” character with the determining role of governmental institutions. This model has both undeniable advantages and areas of deficiency. The transformation of the characteristics of this model will occur under the influence of the specific characteristics of Russian regions. The results of the study are important for executive authorities and business structures for the institutional design of the introduction of circular economy in the agricultural sector of the Krasnodar Territory and other agricultural regions.

Introduction. The relevance is due to the fact that very little attention is paid to this topic in domestic papers despite the importance of reserving budget funds as an instrument of countercyclical policy and sustainability of regional development. The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of reserve funds regulation in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which will allow a better understanding of the motivation and incentives of the authorities and their risk management activities. Materials and Methods. With the help of general scientific methods the analysis of regional laws on reserve fund and budget process and profile governmental resolutions for each subject of the Russian Federation was carried out, the original database on the main features of reserve funds at the regional level in Russia was created. This made it possible to systematize disparate information on various aspects of budget reserves in Russian regions, highlight common features and peculiarities – a step towards improving the institution of reserving funds to ensure regional financial stability. Results. The main features and differences between the reserve fund of the subject of the Russian Federation as a public legal entity and the reserve fund (funds) of the executive authority of the subject are identified. It has been established that the reserve fund of the subject of the Russian Federation as a public legal entity is provided for by legislation in not more than half of the regions of the Russian Federation, while the reserve fund of the executive authority operates in every subject. The sources of the funds are, as a rule, a sharp increase in tax and non-tax revenues during the year and the balance on accounts at the beginning of the year. Areas of expenditures from the fund are usually limited and universal, but depending on the conditions of a particular region they can be diverse. Discussion and Conclusion. The reserve fund of the subject of the Russian Federation remains an unpopular instrument. Unlike the reserve fund of the executive authority, its formation is not necessary, and there is no and spending of funds in the regions. The practical implication consists in the possibility of supplementing the measures of the federal policy of financial stability, as well as in the use of the presented results at the level of a regional administration regarding the experience of other regions in terms of regulation and the practice of formation and of reserve funds.

Introduction. Russian Arctic regions have a significant tourism potential, but it is not fully realized. The purpose of the study is to assess the possibilities of the population of the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation to realize tourism in their places of residence, in Russia and abroad. Materials and Methods. The research methodology is based on the authors’ approach to the analysis of nine Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. The approach allows to fully evaluate and compare with average Russian values the tourism opportunities of the population of the regions of the Arctic zone in their places of permanent residence and beyond. The analysis of tourism opportunities was carried out on the basis of indicators divided into four semantic blocks: economic and social indicators, transport infrastructure, accommodation infrastructure and leisure and entertainment infrastructure. Summary scores for four groups of indicators were calculated based on cluster analysis using the k-means method as well as minimax normalization. Results. The study revealed a significant gap in the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation in terms of economic and social indicators of the population, transportation connectivity and the level of development of infrastructure for accommodation, leisure and entertainment. Limited tourism opportunities for residents of the Arctic regions were identified. The worst situation is observed in the Nenets Autonomous Area, somewhat better in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Discussion and Conclusion. The resuits indicate the need for integrated development of the Arctic regions. The article is of scientific and practical significance for scientists working on tourism development in the Arctic, regional authorities, representatives of the tourism industry.

Introduction. The study of the peculiarities of foreign policy orientations of various social groups is of great importance for modern Russian society and requires comprehensive analysis in the context of the ongoing transformations of the world order and international tensions. The purpose of the research is to determine the structure and dynamics of foreign policy orientations of Russian youth in modern conditions. Materials and Methods. Analysis of all-Russian surveys on similar topics was conducted; the results of quantitative and qualitative author’s studies conducted in 2023–2024 among youth of the Russian regions: Penza, Saratov and Tyumen regions were analyzed. This made it possible to identify the dominant foreign policy orientations of young people and reveal the degree of support for Russia’s political course in the international arena. Results. The author’s structural model is presented, reflecting the essential content and main components of the system of foreign policy orientations of Russians, based on the Russian foreign policy approach at three levels: cognitive, identification-evaluation and activity. The author’s research allowed to obtain new data on the system and dominant foreign policy orientations, their direction and current dynamics; the similarity of foreign policy orientations of youth in different regions was determined and some of their differences in the socio-demographic section were revealed. Discussion and Conclusion. The foreign policy orientations of modern young people are highly developed, which is reflected both at the cognitive and at the identification-evaluation level. A positive image of Russia has been formed in their consciousness; they fully share Russia’s leading role in the modern world order and demonstrate understanding and acceptance of the foreign policy decisions made. The obtained results can be used in improving the conceptual framework of youth policy and the system of civic education of modern youth.

Introduction. In the context of economic sanctions from unfriendly countries, our country has taken a course on deoffshorization of the economy ‒ return of private capital from foreign and international financial structures (trust funds) and their transfer into the Russian legal field. The purpose of the study is to carry out a comparative analysis of the legal regulation of foreign business management in foreign countries in search of best practices for implementation in Russian law. Materials and Methods. Comparative-legal and comparative-historical approaches were used. The analysis of scientific works, legislative and regulatory documents related to the issues of management of other people’s property in other countries was carried out, as well as examples of law enforcement practice were generalized. With the help of methods of comparative jurisprudence, system analysis, legal modeling the differences in approaches to business management through trust funds and trust agreements are revealed, the main principles of legal regulation of the management of other people’s property as an integral institution are determined, possible ways of reforming the Russian law are formulated. Results. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that modern foreign legal systems have developed a variety of models for managing private business assets. The trust model is developed in the United Kingdom, the United States and other common law countries. The legal systems of mixed and continental law have attempted to abandon the direct borrowing of trust and have developed various ways to introduce institutions similar to trust into their own legal systems (trust-like structures). At present, prerequisites have emerged in Russian law for the creation of separate legal regulation of relations on private property management, not identical to the institution of trust. Discussion and Conclusion. In order to create a favorable investment climate in our country it is necessary to develop the institutions of professional management of other people’s business and inheritance business planning, in this regard it seems advisable to include in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation a special section regulating the management of private property. The obtained results have practical significance for representatives of the legal, economic, business community, practicing lawyers, teachers, as well as representatives of the lawmaking initiative.

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the increasing importance and influence of global and, at the same time, regional processes on the process of governance. The purpose of the article is to identify the regional specifics of traditionalism as a systemic phenomenon in the processes of state governance in China; in this case, we consider China as a region participating in global and transregional relations. Materials and Methods. The study is based on sociologist R. Redfield’s concept of social organization tradition, which distinguished between “big” and “small” traditions, and the adaptation of this concept in Chinese sociology. In order to identify the relationship between traditionalism and Chinese specificity of public administration in their historical aspect and to determine the current region-specific trends of traditionalism’s influence on public administration, scientific studies of Chinese sociologists were analyzed. Results. In particular, the systemic characteristics of traditionalism are examined along two interrelated dimensions: philosophical, which determines the value orientations of society, and practical, which aims to ensure stable social interaction. Special attention is paid to the “great state tradition”, which in modern Asia with China as an example manifests itself in the adaptation of traditional management concepts to modern conditions. The processes of penetration of traditional values into political discourse and ideology are studied, emphasizing that modern traditionalism is not a return to the past, but a tool for searching for arguments in the past to actualize modern managment concepts. Discussion and conclusion. The regional specificity of state governance is largely determined by the “big state tradition”, which remains a significant factor of the governance system in China, influences the “little tradition” and seeks ways to adapt to it. The practical significance of the article lies in the possibility of using its results in planning interaction with administrative departments and public structures of the PRC.

Introduction. The relevance of the article is determined by the need for monitoring control of indicators and elements of social strategies of youth in the conditions of high social risks of the border region. The purpose of the article is to determine the typical social characteristics of regional young people based on key indicators of their social strategies. Materials and Methods. The article examines the results and analysis of the materials of the 2023 study conducted in the Belgorod region using an online survey of young people aged 14 to 35 years. The use of this method made it possible to cover a large number of respondents, including in hard-to-reach areas and settlements of the region, to ensure the representativeness of the sample. The study involved 5881 people (schoolchildren, students and working youth from the region). The purpose of the study was to determine the characteristics and indicators of the social strategies of young people. Results. The result of the study was a social portrait of regional youth based on key types of strategic dispositions and life plans for 12 social strategies. Key potentials were identified related to career ambitions, orientation to traditional family values, desire for education and self-development, attention to one’s own health, and the need for self-realization. Risks that could seriously damage to regional human capital were identified: economic infantilism combined with high economic aspirations, social passivity and political egocentrism, situational (selective) spirituality, increased migration potential (orientation to leave the region). Discussion and Conclusion. As a final conclusion, it is worth emphasizing the informational and analytical capabilities of the social portrait of regional youth based on social strategies: the features of the portrait allow us to determine the possibilities of future social investments of young people in the regions, to clarify the problems and deficiencies of socialization effects, and to formulate tasks to ensure the possibility of implementation of life plans of young people for state and municipal government bodies. The materials of the article may be in demand by state youth policy management bodies of various levels, state and municipal administration bodies, youth organizations and educational institutions.

Introduction. The relevance of the issues under study, which is due to the need to strengthen the all-Russian identity in the multi-ethnic North Caucasian community in the context of a sharp aggravation of geopolitical contradictions. The purpose of the article is formulated – on the basis of empirical material, to determine the specifics of the manifestation of macrosocial identity in the life of the population of the North Caucasus Federal District and to identify opportunities for further construction of an all-Russian identity in the North Caucasus region. Materials and methods. The section identifies the sources of the empirical base of all subjects of the Russian Federation that form the North Caucasus Federal District, the main of which are regional regulatory legal acts, scientific articles in journals that are freely available in the RSCI, and expert opinion obtained during an expert survey. The use of methodical triangulation (content analysis, discourse analysis and semi-structured expert interviews) made it possible to highlight different aspects of the process of forming a macrosocial identity, making the research picture more voluminous and complete. The heuristic value of the results obtained through this triangulation was manifested in clarifying the structure of the macrosocial identity of the North Caucasian society and fixing the priority of ethnic and partially religious identities. Results. It is substantiated that for studying the problems of constructing an all-Russian identity in the subjects of the federation that are part of the North Caucasus Federal District, the most optimal is the analytical model of identity proposed by M.V. Nazukina and includes three main levels of identity policy implementation on a regional scale: normative, narrative-mythological and symbolic. The current stage of the formation of macrosocial identity in the North Caucasus is characterized at all three levels by a certain priority of ethnic identity, which is enhanced by confessional identity. Discussion and Сonclusion. Based on the results of scientific analysis, it was concluded that a relative balance has developed in the North Caucasus between the all-Russian and ethnic components of macrosocial identity with a partial predominance of ethno-confessional. Analytical material may be of interest to scientific teams studying the problems of humanitarian security in the North Caucasus; structures interested in strengthening ethnopolitical unity in the region on the basis of all-Russian values. The main results and conclusions of the work can be useful for the media, various cultural and educational institutions in organizing and conducting educational work among the popu lation of the region, including youth.

Introduction. In the context of a large-scale sanctions regime, the intensification of anti-corruption work requires special attention among a number of adjustment measures related to structural changes in the economy and changes in supply logistics. Sanctions become a trigger for the emergence of new corrupt practices. The purpose of this article: using sociological analysis methods, to identify the “social legitimacy” (admissibility, acceptability) of corrupt behavior in the business community as a risk factor for the growth of corruption in unfavorable conditions of sanctions pressure. Materials and Methods. The article is based on the results of a sociological study conducted by the authors using a questionnaire survey to assess the level of business corruption in 2021 pre-sanction and in 2022‒2023 sanction years for the Russian economy among the business community of the Sverdlovsk region (n = 500 annually). In order to compare regional trends with all-Russian ones, the results of sociological studies were used: “Business Barometer of Corruption in Russia” and “Consequences of the introduction of sanctions for Russian business.” Results. Risks to the social legitimacy of corruption under sanctions have been identified: against the general background of a negative assessment of corruption by the business community, there has been an increase in the number of supporters of the position that corruption can help solve pressing business problems, as well as those who are neutral towards corrupt business practices; an increase in the desire of the business community to justify the use of corrupt behavior patterns with the usual “that’s the way it is in Russia” has been revealed. Another risk is the dissonance between values and behavior: “In general, corruption is bad, but in a crisis situation, in my daily practice, I can, even must, use corrupt schemes”. Discussion and Conclusion. The life position of the business community, in which corruption is accepted as an inevitable norm of social interaction, turns out to be a barrier to anti-corruption work. The need to intensify sociological research to study the culture of everyday life in the Russian business community has been recorded. The results obtained can be used by government agencies, the chamber of commerce and industry; the union of small and medium-sized businesses, representatives of the business community to intensify anti-corruption work.

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the increasing importance and complexity of horizontal public relations in socio-political processes, an increase in the number of practices of grassroots civic activity at the regional and local levels, including the use of new information and communication technologies. The purpose of the article is to identify the causes of initiation, the specifics of the organization and practical implementation of grassroots civic activity, as well as the specifics of the interaction of its key actors in modern socio-political conditions in the Yaroslavl region. Materials and Methods. The empirical basis of the study is 21 practices of grassroots civic engagement in the Yaroslavl region, the analysis of which was carried out by the case-study method with elements of comparative analysis. The case-study method made it possible to study these practices of grassroots civic engagement in their complexity and integrity, and also identified their key characteristics and factors influencing them. Results. A comparison of the main practices of grassroots civic engagement that have taken place in the Yaroslavl region in recent years has been made. The main mechanisms and subjects of grassroots civic engagement, processes of interaction between actors are identified. The role of information and communication technologies in the organization of grassroots civic engagement was determined. The problems of grassroots civic engagement organization and interaction of its key actors were also outlined. Discussion and Сonclusion. The study revealed the key characteristics of grassroots civic activity: significant actors, theirs goals, motives, resources and methods of action, features of media coverage and the use of information and communication technologies. The results of the study will be useful for improving the efficiency of the work of local authorities with various formal and informal organizations and associations of citizens. They will help to build work with these groups, taking into account the identified features in the implementation of practices of grassroots civil initiatives in the Yaroslavl region.

Introduction. The most complete information on the size and composition of the population is provided by continuous population censuses, which collect information necessary for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative changes in the composition of the population and the labor force. The purpose of the study is to identify changes in the numerical composition, age structure, and qualitative parameters of the labor potential of the Russian population in the period between the All-Russian population censuses of 2010 and 2020, and to outline ways to strengthen it. Materials and Methods. The study was based on the results of the All-Russian Population Censuses of 2010 and 2020, current accounting data and forecast calculations of Rosstat, publications of scientists engaged in research in the field of economic demography. The analysis of changes in the demographic development of the Russian Federation in the intercensal period was carried out using the methods of dynamic and structural analysis, and the generalization of the results of published scientific research was made on the basis of critical analysis. Quantitative parameters of the labor potential were estimated on the basis of indicators of the population of working age, employed in the economy, unemployed citizens and potential labor force. Results. The main changes in the number and composition of the Russian population by age and education that occurred during the inter-census period have been established. The quantitative and qualitative parameters of the labor force are determined. The outstripping growth of the level of education of unemployed citizens and potential labor force in comparison with those employed in the economy has been revealed, which, with a high degree of depreciation of the active part of fixed assets and a large part of workplaces with harmful and dangerous working conditions, suggests the archaic nature of the Russian economy and the general discrepancy between its requests and the level of education of the population. Calculations have shown that due to the involvement of potential labor in public production, it will not be possible to solve the problem of labor shortage. Discussion and Conclusion. In order to provide the Russian economy with the necessary labor force, it is suggested to consider the following options for increasing the working time fund: temporary increase in the retirement age for women, temporary decrease in the number of holidays, temporary decrease in the duration of paid leave, temporary increase in the length of the working week. The results of the research can be useful for scientists and representatives of public authorities dealing with demographic development, strategic planning, regional development, migration regulation, as well as for specialists in the field of personnel training.

Introduction. The quality of life of silver-age people is associated not only with psychological, economic and physical well-being, but also with the peculiarities of interpersonal relations and the diversity of their social activity. The widespread ideology of active or “delayed aging” actualizes the study of the nature of inclusion of elderly citizens in various practices of social participation that fill their daily lives. The aim of the study is to reveal the level characteristics of social participation of citizens of silver age in the Sverdlovsk Oblast and the factors that determine them. Materials and Methods. The article analyses the data from the survey of residents of the Sverdlovsk Region over the age of 60, the sample is structured by gender, age, and place of residence of the respondents (type of settlement). The authors’ survey method was used to determine the nature and frequency, level and type of social participation of the Urals elderly, to identify factors that contribute to or impede activity in old age. Results. The study showed that socio-consumer participation characterized by activities “for oneself” and collective participation aimed at social integration “together with others” constitute the main content of social participation of the studied cohort. The participation of the elderly in the practices aimed at helping and caring (“for others”) is significantly lower, and a radical decrease in the activity of the elderly Urals residents is revealed when they switch to “civic participation”. It has been proved that the intensity of social participation of silver-age citizens living in cities is higher than in rural areas. The only exception is participation in civic activities. The same influence on the intensity of the different practices of social participation at all levels is exerted by the status of residence (independent or in a residential institution), the presence of close relatives and the frequency of Internet use. Discussion and Conclusion. The identification of the levels and factors of social participation of older citizens creates an evidence base on the processes of active aging in a typical Russian region. The results of the study demonstrate the relevance of focusing regional social policy on aging and the non-profit sector on increasing the social participation of people and groups of the “silver” age. The article may be of interest to regional authorities, social protection and service institutions, the regional non-profit sector, offering tools for the development and implementation of effective social aging policies aimed at implementing resources and supporting the social participation of the older generation.

Introduction. In the new economic conditions caused by the sanctions pressure, the Russian economy needs new sources of growth. Economic specializations in Russian regions, which are understood as prospective sectoral priorities and types of economic activity, can act as a source of revitalizing economic dynamics revival. Geopolitical turbulence and the associated focus on the development of the domestic market have led to additional attention from researchers and experts to the study of the economic specializations of Russian subjects. The objective of this study is to substantiate the development of economic specializations in the regional economy, acting as a condition for its growth. Materials and Methods. Using the materials of the Vologda Region, the export-oriented region of the Northwest, the list of economic specialization, the development of which is promising from the point of view of long-term economic growth, was formulated. The main sources of information are Rosstat data and input-output tables for the Vologda Region. The economic specializations for the region are primarily based on studies that focus on identifying and developing economic specialization in Russian regions. The use of input-output modeling methodology has allowed to determine the impact on the regional economy of extending the value chain in the timber industry due to increased domestic demand for wood products. Results. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of industrial production in the Vologda Region, it was revealed that the Vologda Region is among the regions that have felt the impact of the sanctions. Вased on the approaches of the authors engaged in the search for promising economic specializations of the region, it is established that the timber industry and tourism can act as such. The results of the input-output modeling are shown that stimulating consumer demand for woodworking products has a significant impact on the growth of a region’s economy. This demand is driven by the needs of the tourism sector. The calculations were performed in determining the significance of promoting projects for the development of hotels utilizing CLT panel-based technologies in the region. Discussion and Conclusion. In the study, it was determined that stimulating demand for the production of deep processing of wood (houses from CLT panels) would have a significant impact on the growth of the regional economy, ensuring an increase in the production of goods and services, the wage fund and the number of employed. It was also shown that the development of proposed economic specializations in the Vologda Region is promising and allows for the concentration of added value within the region, which is particularly important for the development of the domestic market. For the regional authorities, the interest lies in the possibility of obtaining a quantitative assessment of the development of economic specializations on their territory, which can be used by them in the improvement of economic policy.

Introduction. The aggravation of socio-economic heterogeneity among Russian regions is one of the main challenges for sustainable development of the country. The main task of spatial policy is to ensure advanced rates of development of geostrategic and lagging behind territories as well as increasing competitiveness of regional economies. However, the events of the past decade substantially adjusted plans on regional economic growth enhancement. The aim of the study is to estimate spatial economic growth heterogeneity and interdependence of bordering entities of Russia over 2013‒2021. Materials and Methods. The main research method is Moran’s methodology for assessing local and global indices characterizing the inter-regional relation and A. Anselin’s approach for local indices of spatial autocorrelation and spatial clusters identification. The research uses regional data on real GRP per capita growth rates for 85 Russian regions for five annual intervals. Results. The results confirmed that geopolitical tensions significantly enhance the regional economic growth heterogeneity. The most developed regions, including main hydrocarbon producers, are found being most exposed to external economic shocks, which reduced their spatial interrelation. Southern and eastern regions demonstrated an upward growth trend. The COVID-19 pandemic shaped the appearance of western and eastern clusters. Regional economies demonstrated the decreasing heterogeneity through enhancing the economic growth rates in the post-crises period. Coincidently, we document that economic development of the regions influences the growth in bordering entities. Discussion and Conclusion. The research allows defining three stages of regional economic growth rates heterogeneity during 2013‒2021. The derived conclusions are recommended for actualizing state policy in reducing regional heterogeneity and strengthening the national economic space.

Introduction. Rural areas represent significant strategic potential for the socio-economic development of the country. In recent years, the role of the state in planning territorial development has increased significantly. This is due to successful experience in designing territorial and sectoral development in difficult periods of macroeconomic and geopolitical crises, financing and monitoring infrastructure projects that are important for the economy and society. The subject of the study are rural areas localized in the space of one of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which recently became part of the state – the Republic of Crimea. The purpose of the article is to substantiate promising directions for the economic development of rural areas of the Republic of Crimea based on the construction of a structural and sectoral profile. Materials and Methods. The research materials were the scientific results of leading scientists studying the problems of the economy of rural areas, structural and sectoral transformations on a regional and municipal levels. The information base of the study was made up of official statistical data of Rosstat and Crimea, official websites of governmental bodies of the Russian Federation, and archival materials. The research was conducted using content analysis of scientific literature, retrospective and structural analysis. Results. Structural and sectoral profiles of the economy of rural areas of the Republic of Crimea for 2017 and 2022 were developed, which allowed to prove the presence of processes of structural and sectoral changes, identify key factors and justify promising directions for further development. The authors prove that against the background of ongoing changes in the economic space of rural areas of Crimea, the dominance of agricultural production based on the use of unique natural factors, resources and conditions (climate, soil fertility, availability of centuries-old technologies for growing agricultural products, etc) remains. Discussion and Conclusion. The decrease in the share of agricultural production in the sectoral structure of the economy of rural territories (municipalities) of the Republic of Crimea is the most significant for the period 2017–2022, which is primarily due to the following factors: strengthening of transport, logistics and recreational and resort functions of the region, development of other types of material production. Analysis of the structural and sectoral profile proves the sustainability of the development of rural municipalities of the Republic of Crimea, due to the focus on the needs of both visitors and local population. It is advisable to use the research results in the development of strategies, plans, projects for the socio-economic development of rural territories, municipalities and regions.

Introduction. The development of science diplomacy is aimed at promotion of a state’s interests in the international arena. Russia is striving to strengthen cooperation in the field of scientific and technological development, humanitarian exchange with such MENA countries as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are of significant interest to Russia due to the long-standing forms of cooperation with them. The main purpose of this study is to identify science diplomacy actors, visually present them taking into consideration the process of science development in these countries and determine prospects of cooperation with Russia. Materials and Methods. In their study, the authors used data from open sources, Russian Federal State Statistics Service reports, UNESCO Science reports, World Bank database. The analysis of development of international science and technology cooperation in the three MENA countries was carried out. The authors used the descriptive method to present the main actors of science diplomacy and visually provide the science diplomacy systems. The developed models of science diplomacy of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates enable Russia to identify the priorities in the field of science diplomacy in the context of geopolitical challenges. Results. The study identified the potential partners of Russia in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to strengthen international science and technology cooperation. The prospects for cooperation with these countries are fixed in the mutual agreements with Russia. The authors studied the policy of these countries in the field of international scientific and technical cooperation, considered strategic directions for the development of science diplomacy. The created models of science diplomacy reflect the main actors of science diplomacy, as well as the current interrelationship between the three MENA countries and Russia in the field of science and technology. The value of this research lies in the preparation of an extensive analytical base that helps to identify potential partners for Russia among the MENA countries, as well as identify key strategies and directions to stimulate the growth of cooperation and knowledge exchange. Discussion and Conclusion. The research has shown that in the studied Arab countries, there is an active development of scientific diplomacy. The governments of these countries are increasingly turning to science to solve political problems. The MENA region has extensive resources and scientific potential, which makes it attractive for scientific cooperation. The analysis of cooperation with these countries made it possible to identify key strategies and priorities to stimulate the growth of cooperation and knowledge exchange between the MENA countries and Russia.

Introduction. Awareness of the commonality of geopolitical and civilizational challenges of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus pushes for deepening integration cooperation in different directions. Close attention is paid to the problem of security, interpreted in an expanded way. Its provision correlates with the strengthening of the humanitarian dimension of the Union State, including the formation of a unified educational space. In modern conditions, its correlation with the consolidation of the policy of patriotic education in the integration field is being actualized. The purpose of the article is to identify the specifics of their coupling, taking into account the dynamics of union construction. Materials and Methods. The research is based on the methods of binary comparison, traditional and discourse analysis of official texts. An additional method is a formalized correspondence expert survey. The key materials are normative legal acts of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, interstate, intergovernmental and integration agreements, information content of the web resources of the Union State. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the research are a new political institutionalism, a multidimensional model of social action, and the paradigm of “political unification”. Results. The article describes the normative foundations of state policy in the field of education and integration guidelines in the cultural and humanitarian plane within the framework of the movement towards the Union educational space. The demanded categories of the axiological plan are revealed, referring to the relationship between education and upbringing. The key lines of discursive practices at the sites of the union institutions are shown. The understanding of the need to adapt education systems to the requirements of the time and the linking of patriotic education with the protection and preservation of common historical memory are emphasized. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study and expert assessments suggest the articulation of not only positive changes, but also urgent vectors for improving national approaches and integration solutions. They correspond to the elimination of conflicts, the development and adoption of new documents at the level of the Union State, the implementation of value categories and new areas of unified policy. The results obtained may be of interest to public authorities and union institutions, participants in patriotic education in the territory of the Union State.

Introduction. In multi-ethnic regions, which include the North Caucasus and the South of Russia in general, reducing the risks of identity conflict, in particular the conflictogenic potential of ethnic identity, is one of the priority tasks of public administration. The object of this policy, first of all, is the youth of the region, from whose ranks the activists of protest movements are recruited. This situation requires monitoring the social well-being of young people in the context of the combination of all-Russian and ethno-confessional identity. The aim of the study is to identify conflictogenic risks arising in the process of sociocultural interaction in multi-ethnic youth communities of border regions. Materials and Methods. The empirical basis of the research state of social identity of youth in the North Caucasus was the results of surveys conducted by the authors in March – April 2022 and 2023 among students of regional universities. It was assumed that the aggravation of the geopolitical situation and a special military operation acted as a trigger for the transformation of the social identity of youth, which has a different trajectory for groups of youth representing the peoples of the North Caucasus and Russians living in the region. An emotional assessment of closeness with communities of different taxonomic series made it possible to establish the significance of all-Russian identity in comparison with ethnic, regional and confessional ones. Results. A comparative analysis of the collected material indicates that the most significant consolidating values and symbols that unite the youth of the region are the common state and state symbols. By choosing these values, as well as the values of Russian culture and the general historical past, young people who consider themselves to be the peoples of the North Caucasus have come closer to the value profile of Russian youth in the region. In the consciousness of Russian youth, there is a growth in sociocultural values, the significance of which in their ideas has approached all-Russian civil and political values. There continues to be a trend aimed at sociocultural integration and erasing ethnocultural differences among the youth of the groups under consideration. Discussion and Conclusion. All-Russian and ethnic identities among young people living in the region are complementary, not competitive. The challenges the country faces are viewed by them as personal and socially significant. This trend is becoming a significant factor that reduces the conflict-generating risks of ethnocultural foundations of identity in youth communities of the North Caucasus. Scientific results will contribute to the understanding of sociocultural threats and risks of conflict in multiethnic youth communities of frontier regions, and will be useful to the scientific community and government authorities.

Introduction. The interstate transit of the Northern Black Sea ‒ Azov region, which took place under the conditions of the armed conflict, was associated with a large-scale geodemographic and socio-economic transformation of regional societies. The aim of the study is to investigate the available demographic resources and production potential of the Cherson and Zaporozhye Regions, to determine the most likely directions of their economic dynamics. Materials and Methods. The analytical and empirical base of the study, in addition to scientific sources, included collections of statistics, as well as media publications documenting the demographic and economic dynamics of the studied regions in 2022–2023. The methodological basis was a systematic approach that allowed combining the methods used in demography, social and economic geography with elements of structural-functional approach and discourse analysis of information obtained from media publications. Results. It was found that during the spring and summer of 2022, there was a significant decrease in the available population of both areas as a result of outmigration. Moreover, the losses of the urban population were higher than those of the rural population. The maximum population losses were suffered by the Dnieper cities and the settlement network of the frontline zone of the Zaporozhye Region. In both areas, the age structure of the population has significantly deformed (a significant increase in the proportion of elderly and old people), the shortage of specialists in the main areas of socio-economic activity has sharply worsened. It is recorded that in 2022–2023 the only major sphere of economic life that continued to function on a scale comparable to peacetime was agricultural production and related segments of industry (primarily food). Discussion and Conclusion. Demographic and socio-economic prospects for the development of both regions will largely be determined by the further dynamics of the armed conflict. The prolongation of its active stage will accelerate the process of reducing the local population due to outflow, and in the economic sphere will contribute to the deepening of agricultural (and more broadly – Agro-industrial) specialization of regional economic complexes. A stable truce will allow to diversify the directions of economic growth, first of all, to activate a number of industrial clusters, the tourist and recreational complex, the sphere of transport and logistics. The results of the study can be used in the development and detailing of plans for the socio-economic development of new territories.

Introduction. Assessment of urbanized areas in terms of their sustainable development and rational use of resource and environmental potential remains the most demanded in modern conditions, because in certain cases it opens up opportunities for preventive management of anthropogenically disturbed areas. The aim of the study is to rank single-industry towns by a number of indicators by means of multifactor analysis of socio-economic indicators of single-industry towns and using systemic and fractal approaches. Materials and Methods. The study was carried out on the basis of a multifactor analysis of socio-economic indicators of single-industry towns, using systemic and fractal approaches. Existing methods for assessing the socio-economic sustainable development of a region and developing integrated regional indicators are analyzed. The authors' methodology was used, which can be considered as the development of existing methods and the development of new methods for indicating and ranking socio-economic processes from the point of view of their sustainability. Results. A new methodology for socio-economic assessment and ranking of single-industry towns has been developed based on multifactor analysis of fractal indicators of their life support: social, economic, resource and environmental. Using the proposed methodology, single-industry towns of the Arkhangelsk Region were ranked according to an integrated fractal indicator of classes of socio-economic processes that indicate the quality of life support of the single-industry towns under consideration, potential risks and the sustainability of their development. Discussion and Conclusion. The developed methodology verifies and complements the existing criteria for transferring single-industry towns from one category to another. It allows, by introducing certain indicators, to assess the sustainability of the socio-economic development of single-industry towns and the possibility of diversifying their economies, and is also a useful practical tool for federal, regional and municipal institutions specializing in managing the development of territories.

Introduction. The article studies patent activity in the regions of Russia. The relevance of the research in this area is determined by the importance of the innovation component in economic growth, as well as by the established targets in the Concept of Technological Development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030. The aim of the study is to identify possible types and directions of patent policy for different groups of Russian regions on the basis of patent activity factors. Materials and Methods. The empirical material for the analysis includes data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Federal State Statistics Service (FSSS) for 2012‒2021. We use linear regression to identify the key factors affecting the patent activity of the regions. The method of hierarchical clustering allowed us to identify groups of regions according to their patent activity. Results. The linear regression showed the statistically significant dependence of regional patent activity on I-activity level of organizations, the number of active fixed broadband Internet subscribers per 100 population and the average of internal costs for research and development per 1 organization in the region. The hierarchical clustering distinguished 5 clusters of regions: “The Leader”, “Innovation centers”, “Regions of high manufacturability”, “Old R&D regions” and “Regions-outsiders”. The authors also formulate definitions of the regional patent policy and the national patent policy and present typologies of state patent policy. Discussions and Conclusions. Based on empirical and theoretical analysis, recommendations on further directions for the development of active patent policies were given to groups of regions. The results of the study can be applied in the development and implementation of scientific and technological regional development strategies, and will also be useful to specialists and government officials involved in regulating patent activity in the regions.