The main purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the political, economic and cultural development of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the role of this country in modern geopolitical and geo-economic processes. It is claimed that the United Arab Emirates is one of the leading states in the Middle East, which is a federation created only in 1971. The article examines the history of various state entities that have existed on the territory of these lands since ancient times. The article pays special attention to the penetration and spread of Islam in the region. The period of Portuguese domination and British protectorate over these lands is considered. The peculiarities of the historical process of formation of each of the seven emirates that are part of the federation are studied separately. The article examines the modern role of the UAE as an influential player at the regional and global levels, and the nature of their interaction with key actors in world politics. The analysis of interstate cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the Russian Federation is carried out. As a result, it is concluded that the country has sufficient potential to achieve the long-term goal of becoming a global capital of investment and economic innovation.

The article identifies the distinctive features of sanctions measures by the United Nations and the European Union, shows the identity of approaches towards the Russian Federation in 2022–2024 by the European Union and some other states. The purpose of the sanctions is indicated, divided by spheres of destructive influence on the Russian Federation. The results of scientific researches on the issue of identifying the most characteristic consequences of sanctions in the national economy in the Russian Federation and the prerequisites for overcoming such economic pressure are studied. The key protective measures taken to stabilize the economy of the Russian Federation are outlined. The approaches of the state authorities to the legal regulation of strategic economic processes that influenced the specifics of product exports are explained. Using key indicators, the dynamics of the economic development of the state is studied and an analysis of these numerical values is presented from the perspective of the ability of the Russian Federation to overcome sanctions pressure. The factors of socio-economic well-being, including those caused by the stabilization of the labor market and the influence of the Bank of Russia, have been identified. Using the example of indicators for total revenues and expenditures, the state’s tendency to reduce the federal budget deficit was revealed. The characteristics of the economic development of the state are presented in accordance with the forecasts of the relevant department by the end of 2024. Through additional study of the results of the scientific community in the sphere of the sanctions impact on the Russian Federation, the next factors of reducing the effectiveness of external economic restrictive measures were identified. Based on the analysis of the specifics of strengthening the economy of the Russian Federation in 2022–2024, two scenarios of the most likely development of the state are predicted, taking into account the effect of sanctions measures.

The article examines the prospects and marketability of plant cell concentrates based on medicinal herbs in the context of import substitution policy. The need to switch these products from the category of food concentrates to the status of medicines is proved. A key aspect of such a transition is optimization of state regulation for pharmaceutical industry through the introduction of new medicines on the market that reduce the incidence rate in the country. The legal features of food concentrates and medicines regulation are considered, which strengthen the expediency of softening the threshold for the entry of medicinal products manufacturers into the pharmaceutical market by the state. The article presents data on the demand of Russians for medicines from 2020 to 2023, taking into account the most significant social events. The conclusion is formulated that the increasing demand can be satisfied by new domestic participants in the pharmaceutical market. Based on the analysis of the turnover of the Russian Federation pharmaceutical market from 2020 to 2023, the need to change state regulation towards softening the entry threshold for new medicines is defined. The paper also presents the dynamics of the Russian Federation pharmaceutical market, which makes it possible to highlight the urgent need for domestic pharmaceutical products and to provide a system for improving the population’s health by reducing dependence on imports of medicines, raw materials and other related products. The study of the theoretical base made it possible to determine that state regulation of the market of the products in question should be aimed at ensuring constant demand from Russians, uniting participants of the industry into industrial clusters, expanding regulation beyond the industrial potential, taking into account risks for the development of the studied medicinal products based on a weak connection with the instruments of state support for the pharmaceutical industry. In conclusion, recommendations for state regulation of the studied products market are provided as well as the positive consequences for the national economy and the health improvement system of Russians are highlighted.

The article considers the issues of higher education development in the new geopolitical reality. The results of researches by Russian and foreign scientists on the problems of human potential formation, the role of the key component – education – in its formation and development are presented. Up-to-date information on the state and prospects of reforming university education is systematized. Based on the analysis of a set of indicators, the priorities of educational activities are established and the results of the work of higher education in Russia (2019–2023) are characterized. The assessment of the effectiveness of the actions taken to improve the management of higher education has been completed. The regulatory framework for higher education at the stage of reforming higher education and data on the use of innovations in the developing digital environment of Russian universities are systematized. Features of the organization of training of university students in the context of the accelerating process of educational activities digitalization are identified. Conclusions are made about the need to focus the attention of the Russian public on the development of human potential and the timeliness of taking measures to form a digital environment in the focus of national programs and federal projects. As recommendations, priority areas of activity of higher education organizations in the context of the development of international cooperation with friendly countries are summarized.

The article is devoted to the in-depth study of corruption in public procurement as a complex phenomenon in Russia. The main aim and goals of this article are to identify and describe a latent model of motivation for bidders to submit applications, to disclose essential prerequisites and (or) procedures in public procurement, to develop and propose a mechanism to improve the operational efficiency of procurement activities through digital technologies, respectively. The authors put forward and test the following hypotheses: (h1) the current mechanism in the public procurement based on the principle of open bidding for a reduction with a fixed initial (maximum) price demotivates its participants to submit applications, since they face double uncertainty: firstly, they cannot calculate the target (acceptable) probability of victory to ensure coverage of direct costs associated with participation, and secondly, the amount of profit, therefore, the current model of competitive public procurement does not allow for the proper and sufficient realization of the advantages of the market mechanism of the developed procurement market as a way to optimize prices and supply conditions; (h2) accompanies h1 and consists in the fact that corruption in procurement on the part of participants is defined by the economic feasibility of increasing the likelihood of receiving an order at the lowest costs. The unacceptably high corruption potential of the public procurement requires adjustment of the placement procedure, firstly, in order to eliminate the factor of the customer’s influence on the choice of the winner, secondly, to optimize the costs of participation in tenders, and thirdly, to increase attractiveness for suppliers, so that filing an application becomes the key to achieving mutually beneficial conditions for obtaining a government order. The authors propose to switch to a new mechanism for placing an order in public procurement, at least for simple standardized products – at a fixed price using Dutch auction method, which is guaranteed to ensure the transition to a «healthy» (target) model of behavior at the market, including the rejection of toxic practices in order to significantly decriminalize and improve its competitive environment.

Issues of interreligious dialogue play a special role in the life of multi-confessional countries, such as Russia. According to the Constitution, religion in Russia is separated from the state. At the same time, the spiritual and ideological influence of various faiths on the life of society is quite great. A special role is played by traditional religions – Orthodoxy and Islam, which cover the majority of believers in the country. In Russia, there is a high level of trust in traditional confessions, primarily in the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Mechanisms of interaction have emerged between the largest religious organizations and the state, and legislation recognizes the special role of traditional faiths in the country’s history. According to the recent research, a relatively small but close-knit core emerged among the followers of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is characterized by increased activity and its prominent role in parish life, initiating various kinds of social undertakings. The low level of religious education of Russians society hampers the expansion of this core. And this problem has not been solved yet. The introduction of the subject «Fundamentals of Culture and Secular Ethics» into secondary schools, which includes the module «Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture», did not meet the expectations. The problems facing the Russian Orthodox Church are in many ways the same for the Islamic community in Russia. But some additional challenges and threats arise here. They are associated with the erosion of the identity of Russian Muslims due to the mass migration of their co-religionists from neighboring countries and the influence of the spiritual centers of Islam located abroad. The study of the issue shows that in order to overcome extremist tendencies and conflicts on religious grounds, it is necessary to further develop interreligious and state-confessional dialogue and increase the religious literacy of the Russian population.

The article touches upon important issues of civil service development in the context of modern challenges and threats. In the introduction, current trends characterizing the role and importance of value orientations for public service in Russia are described. The assessment of the formed regulatory framework of the civil service is given. It is suggested that there is currently a transformation of the civil servants’ value orientations in Russia. It is argued that such processes are initiated mainly by a special military operation and global changes in modern society associated with the transition to a new technological order. The main part of the article using different sources verifies this assumption. The special military operation has highlighted a number of significant changes affecting the values of Russian society. This part also outlines the future challenges and threats that are being formed today, related to the use of artificial intelligence-based systems in solving public service tasks. The article describes the multiple problems of implementing artificial intelligence-based systems in public administration based on the experience of Great Britain. The paper provides an assessment of the risks associated with the introduction of artificial intelligence systems in public administration. Among the new class of tasks that are highlighted are the tasks of ensuring the security of systems based on artificial intelligence. The most significant task is the formation of value orientations, which are included in the training data sets. As a result, it is concluded that value orientations in the civil service are becoming particularly important today due to the ongoing transformations and require special attention to their formulation and interpretation.

The international community considers climate change and global warming as world challenges. Reducing the anthropogenic impact on the climate, by greenhouse gases decreasement, particularly carbon dioxide, is an important measure to solve the climate stabilization problem. Therefore, the low-carbon agenda was formed at national, regional and international levels. The aim of the study is to determine the role of non-profit environmental organisations (eco–NPOs) in forming the low carbon agenda in EAEU member states. By using qualitative methods, particularly interviews with representatives of eco-NPOs of the EAEU member states, the author analyzed mechanisms and participation degree of eco-NPOs in the modern political process of these countries. Climate issues are not always the main thematic area of such organisations because since the climate agenda is not an independent agenda in the analysed countries. Environmental NPOs influence the formation of the low-carbon agenda on the national level through three main types of function – educational, controlling (control over state policy) and consulting. Eco-NPOs in Kyrgyzstan perform the most effective controlling and consulting functions. In Kazakhstan and Russia recommendations of eco-NPOs are taken into account by the state quite rarely, despite the fact that there are number of permanent communication channels between the state and eco-NPOs in these two countries.

The article concerns one of the most important forms of modern sports diplomacy – football diplomacy in one of the most difficult periods of post-war history – the era of the Cold War. It is shown that this diplomacy can contribute both to the processes of overcoming interstate contradictions, mitigating and smoothing conflict situations, and lead to the opposite results. It is claimed that since its formation, the USSR has tried to use this increasingly popular game to achieve its foreign policy goals. The research methodology included data collection, the method of analyzing documentary sources, a comparative approach, comparative and situational analysis. The study focuses on the fierce confrontation within the framework of the European Football Championships between the Soviet Union and Spain, which have not only had no diplomatic relations since the late 1930s, but outright hostility took place. The refusal of the Spanish leadership to send the national team to Moscow in 1960 and the failure of the Soviet national team in Madrid four years later, one of the reasons for which was the «psychological impact» of local authorities, caused not only a wave of negative emotions among Franco and Khrushchev, but also deep disappointment among fans of both countries. As a result, it is concluded that the football factor convinced the leaders of the two states to reduce the degree of political confrontation, and when the draw brought both teams together again at the qualifying stage of Euro-72, the players and fans no longer felt the former hostility. Nevertheless, the events of that time proved once again that the slogan «Sport is out of politics» is often just a slogan.

The first post-revolutionary years (1917–1919) were a period of profound changes in all spheres of life, including the cultural sphere. This article aims to outline the contribution of the restorer, academician of architecture P.P. Pokryshkin, to the organization of the first Soviet state institution responsible for the protection of cultural heritage monuments – the Russian State Archaeological Commission (RSAC), as well as its transformation into a major scientific center – the Russian Academy of the History of Material Culture (RAHMC). The main research methods used were the method of historical analysis, historical-comparative, chronological and retrospective methods. Based on these methods, a comprehensive historical reconstruction of P.P. Pokryshkin’s activities in the Archaeological Commission was carried out, with an emphasis on his contribution to the creation of a large restoration and research center based at the institution. A brief acquaintance with a number of archival documents revealed that the transformation of the Archaeological Commission into RAHMC and the creation of the Institute of Archaeological Technology within it in August 1919 was initiated and prepared to a significant extent by P.P. Pokryshkin. At the same time, the scientist worked on issues of determining the place of the RSAC and the RAHMC in the system of Soviet institutions for the protection of cultural heritage. As a result of the expansion of the activities of the RSAC, as well as the work associated with the development of the Statute of the future Academy, P.P. Pokryshkin established himself as a representative of a strictly scientific approach to the organization of activities for the protection of monuments. The study of P.P. Pokryshkin’s contribution was conducted in the cultural and historical context of the time, however, the information presented cannot fully reveal the enormous work of the scientist, which served to organize the activities of the first Soviet institutions for the protection of monuments on a scientific basis, and therefore requires further research.

Accountability is the most important function of public administration, which involves the creation of sustainable and transparent rules in the interaction of government bodies and civil society. At the same time, the implementation of this function in the practice of municipal administration is not given due attention. This is manifested in the insufficient number of control parameters presented in the legislation and used to more fully ensure the responsibility of the authorities to the population. The aim of the article is to assess legal aspects of the accountability function at the municipal level. The stated aim involves solving a number of research problems, including identifying the main features of accountability, identifying the features of accountability at the municipal level, and formulating criteria for the implementation of this function. As research methods, comparative analysis was used, with the help of which a comparison of the accountability function at the state and local levels was carried out. The object of the study was the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of April 28, 2008 No. 607 «On the assessment of the effectiveness of the activities of local government bodies of municipalities, municipal, urban districts and municipal districts» and 131-FL «On the general principles of organizing local self-government in the Russian Federation». The main result of the study is the asymmetry in the implementation of the accountability function in the activities of state and municipal authorities, identified on the basis of the analysis of regulatory documents. This asymmetry is manifested in the obvious dominance of state parameters of accountability of local authorities compared to their responsibility to the population. Overcoming the asymmetry is possible by expanding the responsibility of local government to the population, establishing simple and transparent rules for maintaining document flow and reporting, as well as introducing new digital technologies.

The problem of patriotism is relevant in political science and public policy in modern Russia. There is no unified understanding of patriotism phenomenon in Russian academic discourse, it is interpreted in different ways: as an element of national identity, as a moral feeling, as a political value. Patriotism determines the behavior of a person and social groups, regulates public relations, therefore, the special attention of the state to patriotic education and the formation of patriotic orientations of Russian citizens is noticed. The aim of the study is to describe the ideas of patriotism among modern Russian youth, to identify the structural and substantive features of patriotism in the system of political values of young people. The analysis is based on the materials of seven focus group discussions with young people aged 14 to 30 years, conducted in the fall of 2023, and materials from a 2022 survey of youth aged 14 to 30 years with a multi-stage proportional zoned (stratified) sample of 2,500 people representing all Federal Districts of the Russian Federation. The data obtained indicate that the importance of patriotism is high for Russian youth, and ideas about the Fatherland are predominantly socio-cultural in nature. Young people consider themselves patriots, but the manifestation of their patriotism occurs in the absence of action. The results reflect the emotional attitude of young people towards their country, while the activity interpretation remains less pronounced. As conclusions, we note generational differences in the ideas of patriotism among the young people surveyed and the inconsistency between the declared principles and the behavioral attitudes of the respondents implemented in the process of social interactions.

The article is the second part of a study published earlier in the journal. Despite the abundance of studies on the gig economy, the majority of these studies are based on the experiences of individual countries, which makes it challenging to develop a comprehensive understanding of the unique characteristics of the emerging economy of new labor relations. Given that current theoretical research on the gig economy lags behind practice, there is an urgent need to expand understanding of its nature and develop constructive recommendations for effectively taking advantage of opportunities arising in the labor market. The paper identifies the specifics of functioning and development prospects of the gig economy based on the content and characteristics of the part-time economy. Its structural elements are defined. The article summarizes theoretical and practical approaches to the issue of emergence and development of the economy of new forms of employment. It specifies the participants of the gig economy and defines the peculiarities of its functioning process. Platform companies, which act as integrators of market relationships, receive special attention in this paper. Platform companies fulfill their commitments based on algorithmic management in five key stages: trust, compliance, control, stimulation and feedback. It is noted that algorithmic management allows influencing the behavior of gig workers and has functions that allow implementing an effective mechanism of interaction between subjects of socio-economic relations. The conclusion outlines the results obtained and possible directions for future research in the gig economy. The findings of the research into the economics of new labor relations presented in this article are both of theoretical and practical significance. They can therefore be regarded as a reference point for the further development and implementation of promising mechanisms for the growth of the gig economy in the longer term.