Research yearbook. The Institute of Philosophy and Law. The Urals Division of the RAS

21-36

Authors: Yarkeev Aleksey. V.

The article considers the existence of society as the being of social subjectivity,which is self-defined by means of violence through a point of negative identity.Social subjectivity is regarded as power of social existence representing itself in predicative structures of normal identity. Normalization of society is connected with establishing of some kind of order based on «inclusion/exclusion» differentiation. It is proved that exclusion being always included into a system is objected and seen as external to the system. hus, social subjectivity denies part of itself, which leads to its lack. The lack exists as “blind spot” of social system, as “empty place” of missing subject, as the place of objectivity of social subjectivity or as the space for “social imaginary”. In other words, the lack of subjectivity is completed by imaginary constructions of ideology, which legitimizes violence. Adequate methodological solution of this problem could be found within method of subject-object identity, according to which the border is seen as co-operative being of normal and negative identities.

51-63

Authors: Romanova Kira S.

The article deals with the modernization of Russian society understood as the creation of politically stable and democratic state, high-tech economy and social sphere. Based on sociological research, the author assesses their context, analyzes socio-cultural, political, economic,aspects of society, which experience social and cultural trauma, and often manifest themselves as simulacra. Structural deformation of domestic economy towards non-productive employment is accompanied by corresponding change of basic values of the society, leading to depreciation of human productive labor. The author defines the need for the appearance of leading actors (political actors) associated with productive labor that provides national treasure of Russia. They can determine genuine ideological objectives, methods, technological upgrades, and almost lead driving forces of modernization. The author tries to identify main problems of positive economic and political development of Russia and the regions, especially reactions of people and the government towards crisis and post-crisis situation, as well as perspectives of modernization of Russia's socio-economic and political systems.

83-96

Authors: Martianov Victor S.

The article reviews the transformation of Russia’s strategy towards Arctic in the context of global rethinking of the potential of Arctic macro-region. General legal and political principles of the exploration of Arctic are analyzed, with particular interest towards its geopolitical position. Based on the content analysis of Russian press, leading forces and agents are defined, as well as aims and problems of the exploration of Russian Arctic. The dynamics of Russia’s politics towards Arctic are studied. It is argued that the aim of Russia’s politics is symbolical location of Arctic «nearer» to Russia. At the same time, it is shown that contemporary exploration of Arctic remains mostly rhetorical. Moreover, the former Soviet heroic symbols of Arctic exploration dominate over the discourse (polar explorer, North Pole, Arctic Passage, drifting wintering, etc). Based on the content of Rossiiskaya gazeta (1991–2012), it is shown that the core discourse remains the same, and fluctuations of its elements have just relative significance, depending on current Russian and global political agenda. Additional analysis of official projects of Arctic exploration demonstrates their controversial character and lack of strategic envision of development of the region. It is argued that the revaluation of Russia’s priorities towards Arctic, which are relevant to the international legal regime of the region and the potential of various forms of cooperative participation of its development, is essential.

118-132

Authors: Kovaleva Daria M.

The article investigates the concept of «soft power» in the context of contemporary political science and practice of international relations. The author consistently examines sources of the concept in the history of political and philosophical thought, as well as its current status. She concludes that the concept of «soft power» was put forward by Joseph S. Nye and became important for political science after his efforts to clarify the concept. In addition, it happened due to the concept’s consistency with the contemporary understanding of preferred forms of regulation of international relations and maintenance of world order, as well as its cognitive capacities (adequate understanding and explanation of global trends). The author offers her own vision of definition and model of the phenomenon. It is shown that the methodology of the assessment of states’ «soft power» has not take shape yet; thus, the use of results of statistical data without poll results leads to unsatisfactory conclusion. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of strategic discourses of «soft power» in Russian and Chinese political science research centers. Despite a number of common problems, scientists from both countries acknowledge that «soft power» has became part of the national strategy.

146-155

Authors: Kodolova Alena V., Manvelova Aleksandra B.

Among priorities of international policy of the Russian Federation is the entry into Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The condition of the entry is the implementation of OECD decisions and ecommendations into Russian legislation.Decisions and recommendations of OECD concerning environmental protection and ensuring ecological safety deserve special attention. OECD requirements concerning the need to change several Russian normative legal acts are contained in the «Road map» for the entry of the Russian Federation into OECD Convention, which was accepted on November, 30, 2007 by 1163 session of OECD Council. The main directions of modernization of ecological legislation are the following: waste management, polluter pays principle, environmental monitoring, ecological information, ecological safety of industrial activity. OECD requirements’ concerning modification of Russian normative legal acts actually stimulates the reforming of ecological legislation in our country.