RUDN Journal of Public Administration

The study is devoted to the analysis of the phenomenon of information warfare in the modern world. Authors concretized the concept of information warfare and its connection with hybrid warfare, which has replaced the mechanisms of direct “forceful” influence in a rapidly changing political architecture. The significance of the wars of the XXI century, which are conducted from the position of “soft power” and are characterized by a protracted nature, is revealed. Information warfare is considered as their most important component. The authors highlight the following features of information wars: they are conducted in the cultural field; their purpose is to transform the consciousness of a political opponent. These wars are aimed at value orientations, traditions, historical and cultural identity. The emergence of the concept of “information warfare” in the article is associated with the end of the Cold War at the end of the XX century and the definition of a new U.S. strategy. The main conditions and reasons for the transition to a new type of war are the collapse of the bipolar world, the growing threat of international terrorism, and the erosion of ethnic and cultural identity within the United States and allied countries themselves. Cybernetic troops are analyzed as a new specialized type of troops. The authors revealed two main spaces of the information war impact: the communicative environment and the field of probable social macro-conflict. Information warfare in research is considered as part of a military, economic, and geopolitical confrontation. The authors substantiate that an extremely intensive information war has been waged against the Russian Federation for more than 20 years. It involves depriving Russia not only of allies, but also replacing the “cultural and historical codes” in friendly countries, primarily by reformatting the consciousness of young people. The authors analyzed the documents aimed at solving the problem of information wars in Russia - the “Information Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation” and the “National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation”.

The study deals with the issue of forming a strategy for the activities of digital attaches, which are currently being gradually formed at some diplomatic missions of Russia. It is emphasized that the economic security of the country in the context of digital transformations will largely be determined by a competent and balanced policy to protect the interests of Russian business abroad. The object of our research can be identified as the activities of digital attaches aimed at supporting Russian IT companies. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the fact that a number of wellknown Russian IT companies are forming their own digital platforms. The subject of the study is the mechanism of interaction between digital attaches and domestic developers and owners of digital platforms. It is assumed that smoothed work in this direction will contribute to the achievement of the tasks assigned to digital attaches. The author focuses on the fact that in the process of building work with digital platforms, it is necessary to take into account such important factors as the specifics of the economic life of the country where the digital attaches are based, as well as national legal norms regulating business. The author analyzes domestic and foreign scientific literature on the regulation of digital platforms, while emphasizing that the legal mechanism regulating the cooperation of digital attaches and IT companies has not yet received its clear regulatory outline. The study focuses on the fact that the effective activity of digital attaches is an important factor in ensuring the economic security of the country.

The study analyzes the specifics of women’s political leadership in the USSR and identifies the factors that predetermined the secondary role of women in Soviet, and later modern Russian politics. The purpose of this study is to identify the features of women’s activities as political leaders in the Soviet state and compare them with the features of women’s participation in political power in modern Russia. To achieve the goal, historical-chronological and comparative analysis are used as research methods. The unique experience of the women’s departments is considered in detail, as well as the personal factor of Soviet women leaders as the reason for political success. It is concluded that during the entire existence of the Soviet Union, the parity ratio of men and women at any level of power was not achieved even despite attempts to introduce various measures, such as a quota system, to achieve this goal. However, among the reasons for this situation, it was highlighted that attempts to achieve gender parity in government were primarily ideological in nature and aimed not at achieving real equality, but at demonstrating the ideology of the USSR on the world stage. The presence of women in the highest government positions in the USSR was an extremely rare phenomenon, since, in order to meet practical needs, the state, as a rule, preferred to involve women in politics at the lowest levels of the political hierarchy. A comparative analysis of women’s political leadership in the Soviet period with the present has shown that the same trend persists in modern Russia.

The consequences of insurgency, internal strife, and natural disasters force internally displaced people (IDPs) to live lives they never anticipated or desired. On this note, this study explores the challenges faced by IDPs in Nigeria as well as the globalisation of the Boko Haram (recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation) insurgency. The study also looks at the difficulties IDPs in Nigeria face as a result of the Boko Haram (recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation) insurgency, such as violence between Hausa and Fulani, natural and man-made disasters. Due to their affiliation with foreign terrorists, Boko Haram’s (recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation) effects are more devastating. The study adopted the human needs theory and used qualitative research methods to gather information from secondary sources including books, journal articles, news magazines, and internet sources. According to the human needs theory, it is up to the government to decide how to handle social issues. Findings indicate that the difficulties faced by internally displaced people in Nigeria, which include housing shortages, starvation, hunger, lack of access to water and electricity, and lack of sustainable occupation, portend serious threats to the nation’s human security. The study also suggests that to address the issue of start-up funds, which threatens IDPs’ economic opportunities in new environments, the government should quicken the advancement of low-interest loans for skilled IDPs. The government should also work with people and organisations to provide vocational skills. The study concludes that, doing so will help to alleviate the situation of Nigeria’s internally displaced people.

The study examines the problem of supporting small and medium-sized businesses in rural settlements of the Russian Federation. Using the example of entrepreneurship support measures developed in the Vavozhsky district of the Udmurt Republic, the authors demonstrated effectiveness of attracting small and medium-sized businesses to the creation of facilities in rural settlements. Based on the analysis of statistical data, the authors show that the measures implemented in the district to support small and medium-sized businesses have the potential to preserve and develop rural settlements.

This study analyzes data on cultural and patriotic events that took place in the city of Belgorod in the period from 2022. The study identified the main trends in the development of such events in the conditions of Special Military Operation. It is concluded that despite the alarming situation that occurred after the shelling, the city of Belgorod continues to show determination and perseverance in organizing mass events based on mechanisms of cooperation between authorities and residents.