No 1 (2009)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the major approaches to the issue of objectivity pertaining to the humanities and offers different alternatives of its solution provided by the contemporary Western sociological thought.

The axis of the publication is the endeavor involving the sociological study of pivotal questions pertaining to armed struggle legitimization patterns via the nature of the struggle as well as by means of the specific agents' rights definition to be engaged in the struggle. Some conclusions concerning the future of the very concept of security and military dominance are derived from the study.

Intercultural communication viewed as a tool for social interaction facilitation between the representatives of various cultures has acquired essential importance in the era of globalization. The current state of the society is characterized by the emergence of numerous social and cultural conflicts, the settlement of which requires efforts of all the conflicting parties. Therefore, the mankind is both able to and is to seek compromise as well as to use dialogue as the most optimal survival means. Due to the significance of the intercultural communication the European Council declared the year 2008 the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the results of the sociological research conducted in the framework of the project «Scientific and Technical Elite of the Ukraine: the Patterns and Mechanisms of Formation in the Regional Dimension» (2005-2007). The author focuses his attention on the assessment of the condition of organization, information and logistic support of students' research and other components of academic pre-elite formation in the context of the system of higher education.

At present the adjustment of problems of interethnic and international relations in the entities of the Russian Federation refer to the actual tasks of the state control. One of the main factors of social and political tension in this branch is a migration factor. Problems of migration situation are examined for example, as the sociological research, which has been carried out in 12 entities of the Russian Federation, including entities of the South Administrative District.