Scientific section. Politology

Problem theoretical aspects of the study of the foreign policy mechanism have been considered. Approaches of researchers have been offered. It was shown that the foreign policy mechanism is in the form of the political system, which provides the definition of the goals, objectives, priorities and directions of the foreign policy, and the allocation of resources for its implementation. The elements of foreign policy mechanism are divided into constitutional (state bodies) and extra-constitutional (political parties, NGOs, economic structures, public opinion).

The article summarizes the results of the expert survey, dedicated to the comprehensive analysis of the information space. The study analyzed the problems of the media functionality of their position in the media space, building communications with the government and society, mechanisms of formation of an information agenda. Also, based on expert judgment by the authors offered the option of rating the regional media.

The atricle is devoted to considering the functionality and the goal-setting of the propaganda during the period of Perestroika in the USSR. It is also analyzed the changes in the use of the propaganda machine within the policy of Uskoreniye [literally meaning «acceleration»] and Glasnost [literal meaning «publicity»] – the substantive instruments of transformation of all the sphears of the Soviet society.

This article offers a new typology of forms of political participation and civic engagement by Martyn Barrett and Bruna Zani based on the analysis of previous theoretical concepts of political participation. In particular, it makes a distinction between traditional forms of political participation and less direct new or latent forms of political participation.