Vol 16, No 1 (2016): "Soft Power" in International Relations. The Image of Russia

Conducting of foreign policy solely by means of classical diplomacy today seems inefficient. States are supposed to use additional set of tools that have traditionally been at the confluence of soft and hard powers. Convergence of these concepts launched the emergence of such strategies, as smart power and hybrid power that we analyze as a system in relation to such a phenomenon, as BRICS. In the first part of paper we contemplate the concept of power and further expand it to the theoretical ground of each of these strategies along with the existing experience and prospects of their implementation in the BRICS countries. Systematic analysis is taken as the basis of the methodology of this paper, which allowed us to explore this theme separately for each of the BRICS countries and collectively as a system. Feasibility of a number of our provisions is confirmed by relevant case studies and analyses of the most relevant Russian and foreign literature, which results in our main conclusions. Current trends indicate that the BRICS countries are actively expanding its presence in all the key sectors of the global economy and politics. BRICS is at an early stage of implementation of own formats and tools of smart and hybrid powers, the role of which will steadily increase in the international activities of the group, adding value to its arsenal of traditional diplomacy. The potential capacity of soft, smart and hybrid powers of BRICS aims at helping countries to achieve a new level of integration and attractiveness in the eyes of the international community, and will also allow countries to strengthen their positions.

The article is an attempt to describe the role of the Institute of International Youth Organizations European space as a component of “soft power”. Examples of promoting a policy of “soft power” in the history of the international youth movement identified some problematic aspects and the main vectors of its development within the framework of the European Youth Forum, which is both international umbrella youth organization and actively supports the conduction of Western values, especially political and humanitarian. As the institutional framework of interaction and mutual influence of pan-European organizational youth milieu, these actors are actively going beyond the traditional forms of activity and unaccounted humanitarian potential in the field of international relations cannot be neglected by specialists. This expansion of the capacity of the activities of international youth actors fits into the overall logic of extending the boundaries of foreign cultural policy of the European Union, the Council of Europe and other regional and sub-regional international organizations. This logic of pan-European practices of Institute of International youth organizations, as a resource of “soft power”, is updated by the problems of studying the international participation of Russian youth actors in the environment and requires to focus on the identification of the creative role of international organizations and on the study of situations where the institution does not act as constructive subject of international humanitarian cooperation.

The article describes the Russian-Chinese joint projects in the field of higher education as an innovative form of cooperation between the two countries in the new millennium. The author stresses that, in general, these projects are educational, while still not sufficiently developed research, innovation, investment and combined educational projects. But, despite this, there has been clear progress in relations between the two countries in this field. However, the author shows the growing role of international educational projects as an important and effective instruments of «soft power». At the same time, the research also showed that Sino-Russian educational projects are divided not only into bilateral but also into multilateral projects. That, in turn, allows Russia to promote their own culture and educational services in the different geopolitical regions that are the region of SCO and BRICS. Accordingly, increasing the attractiveness of culture and education will promote a positive image of Russia in the international arena. The author defines the Russian interests, problems and perspectives in the field of Russian-Chinese joint projects in the field of higher education.

The article examines the role and the place of EAEU in the Russian foreign policy strategy. The Authors study features of development of integration in the space of the CIS, argue its special importance for Russia. In this study the economic and political interests of the Russian state in EAEU have been revealed. It is noted that Russia is seeking, through the deepening of integration processes, to ensure the opportunity for her and the partners to be competitive in today's turbulent world. The analysis of the importance of Ukrainian factor for the development of integration processes in the CIS was carried out. It is shown that for successful functioning of EAEU participation of Ukraine in this integration formation is a necessary condition, considering the potentials, which Ukraine possesses.

The given article presents analysis of contemporary geopolitical situation in the world. The author proves that the growth of international tensions caused by disappearance of the balance of power in world politics as well as the strategy of hegemonic power of the U.S. actualizes the necessity of activation of political role of the Russian Federation in the world. The author argues the common understanding that the status of the “superpower” on the world stage is primarily determined by economic parameters. With the decrease of international powers of the United States, the illusion of “American exceptionalism” vanishes that leads to transformations of geopolitical and geostrategic configurations. In this regard, Russian military operation in Syria clearly demonstrates the return by Russia of its superpower status in world politics and the elimination of the imaginary monopoly of NATO on “precision war”. Thus, Russian Federation demonstrates a fundamentally different foreign policy model based on respect for international law, the principles of national sovereignty and multilateral cooperation. The return of Russia's superpower status is determined by its ability to openly oppose the US on issues of fundamental importance and requires the consolidation of Russian society, formation of state ideology and the intensification of efforts to build foreign alliances and participate in integration associations.

This article is devoted to the research of the Armenian issues in research activity of Franch think tanks. The article analyzes the interrelation between Armenian studies in the main foreign policy and international affairs think tanks in France and the decision-making process, and also the Armenian diaspora's influence on this process. The main part of researchers and experts dealing with the Armenian themes in the think tanks of France, is of Armenian descent, and first of all they are interested in the political issues of the country of their origin. Think tanks have different methods of bringing their intellectual product to the decision-makers. Think tanks can influence decision-makers through the public opinion, disseminating the results of their research and ideas through the media or through the publication of political journals. Speech of the researchers as experts during hearing in the Parliament is also one of the methods for an influence on politics. In the article particular attention is given to the quantitative analysis of the impact of the researchers and think tanks on the political process.

This article shows how agent-based modeling allows us to explore the mechanisms of the dissemination of cultural norms and values both within one country and in the whole world. In recent years, this type of simulation is particularly prevalent in the analysis of international relations, becoming more popular than the system dynamics and discrete event simulation. The use of agent-based modeling in the analysis of international relations is connected with the agent-structure problem in international relations. Structure and agents act as interdependent and dynamically changing in the process of interaction between entities. Agent-structure interaction could be modeled by means of the theory of complex adaptive systems with the use of agent-based modeling techniques. One of the first examples of the use of agent-based modeling in political science is a model of racial segregation T. Shellinga. On the basis of this model, the author shows how the change in behavioral patterns at micro-level impacts on the macro-level. Patterns are changing due to the dynamics of cultural norms and values, formed by mass-media and other social institutes. The author shows the main areas of modern application of agent-based modeling in international studies including the analysis of ethnic conflicts, the formation of international coalitions. Particular attention is paid to Robert Axelrod approach based on the use of genetic algorithms to the spread of cultural norms and values. Agent-based modeling shows how to how to create such conditions that the norms that originally are not shared by a significant part of the population, eventually spread everywhere. Practical application of these algorithms is shown by the author of the article on the example of the situation in Ukraine in 2015-2016. The article also reveals the mechanisms of international spread of cultural norms and values. The main think-tanks using agent-based modeling in international studies are mentioned as well as the most frequently used software. It has been shown that a significant part of the research on this issue is of great practical importance.

The article considers the historical background, organizational and legal circumstances of the development and signing of the Russian-French agreement on mutual recognition of education and (or) qualifications and degrees. The authors reveal fundamental importance of the uniform approach by comparison the basic levels of education between the two countries and the relevant qualifications. Analysis of the main substantive provisions of the joint document is provided. It is the first such full-scale agreement signed by the Russian Federation with one of the developed countries. A brief overview of the evolution of “qualifications recognition”, its concept, essence, targets and terminology are given in the initial part of the paper. The article analyzes the definitions of terms used both in the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European region and in the modern practice of the recognition of the Russian Federation. Distinction of the purpose and possibilities of conventions application and bilateral agreements on the recognition of qualifications are shown. The authors describe the sequence and content of the basic stages of development of the draft Agreement. The article displays mismatch of the two countries on the possibility of professional recognition along with academic recognition. In conclusion, the authors express confidence that the signing of the Russian-French agreement on the recognition of qualifications will promote academic exchanges and deepen cooperation between Russia and France, and will have a stimulating effect on all aspects of international educational co-operation between Russia and other countries.