No 4 (2015)

The article examines the causes and origins of the contemporary socio-cultural and political crisis and the characteristics of the present age. The analysis allowed to establish that the postmodern world, proclaiming the "death of man", has led to massive loss of human life and to the complete disappearance of any criteria and benchmarks that made the man extremely manageable and exposed to a variety of influences. Address the issue and about the Genesis of the phenomenon of "post-secular world," in which developing in many countries of the world.

The article examines the ambiguity of China’s contemporary foreign policy towards Southeast Asia that is manifested in the incorporation of two contradicting approaches simultaneously: economic and diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asian countries, but growing pressure on them in territorial disputes. It analyzes efforts that Beijing has been undertaking to enhance its political engagement, trade and investments in Southeast Asia and to boost China’s positive image in the region. It also traces China’s growing assertiveness in the territorial disputes in the South China Sea since 2007-2008. The article identifies major reasons for changes in China’s foreign policy on territorial issues - the strengthening of China’s national comprehensive power, the rise of Chinese nationalism and the US “return to Asia” policy. It concludes that Chinese growing engagement with Southeast Asian countries is aimed at deepening of these countries’ dependence on China in order to exert pressure on them on territorial issues in future.

The article discusses the problems of the middle East Christians, the problems that began after organized from outside political upheavals. The analysis allowed to establish that in the world today Christians become one of the most persecuted religious communities that many Christian communities of the Middle East that existed for almost two thousand years, are on the verge of death. The key issue today is the mission of Russia and the aim of the mission is the salvation and protection of Christians in the Middle East. Address the question about the roots of this mission.

Subject of the article presents records of searching for the under-tumulus antiquities of the Early Iron Age on the territory of Chechnya. The article is the first complex research on this topic and involves a wide range of the data sources, including the earlier published pre-revolutionary (before 1917) publications and the archives of certain institutions. The sources have been used with the reference to the criteria of correspondence between the notion of “the archeological exploring works” and the ways of formation of the research and information basis within the historical perspective.

The article analyzes the CIS cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. The author focuses on a multilateral format of this interaction - forums of scientific and creative intelligentsia of the CIS, held annually since 2006. A special attention is given to the role of humanitarian cooperation in strengthening of integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The priority areas for discussions at the forums are science, education, culture, youth problems, tourism. The cooperation in these fields demonstrates a wide range of options and growing potential of mutually beneficial activities of the CIS countries.