In the system of modern science global studies occupy a special position. It is not similar to one of concrete disciplines as it is integrative knowledge about the social and natural processes and problems which borders are defined by the planet scale. Unlike separate sciences examining this or that fragment, aspect of reality, global studies are aimed at the solution of complex, vital for all mankind tasks, one can cope with only on the way of interdisciplinary interaction.

Arkadi D. Ursul

Global Processes, Safety and Sustainable Development Original text and References

It is shown that processes of globalization in the 21st century will be increasingly oriented on the purposes of the strategy of sustainable development accepted by the UN and the majority of states of the world community. The sustainable development is considered as a new, social and natural type of development where global civilization processes take the biosphere-compatible and safe form. There comes the stage of ‘globalization through sustainable development’, opening possibilities of the joint, effective solution of social and economic and environmental problems, minimization of their negative consequences, promoting survival of the mankind and preserving biosphere.

William Gay

Processes of Globalization and the Global Studies Original text and References

General typology of approaches to globalization is presented in article. The author defines four approaches: followers of globalization who represent it as the humane process in general or capable to become as such; critics of globalization, whether they call themselves antiglobalists or not; scientists who recognize that its future is not defined, regardless of whether they support globalization or not; scientists who irrespective of whether they support globalization or not adhere to scientific and disciplinary approach in its understanding and assessment. In the second part of the article the author turns to the history of global studies. He believes that after the division of global studies into ‘the western’ and ‘the eastern’ there takes place its consolidation at the moment.

Vladislav L. Inozemtsev

Modern Globalization and Its Perception in the World Original text and References

In the article the author being the famous Russian expert in the international economy investigates sources and prospects of development of ‘the theory of globalization’, coming to the conclusion that in the western science by the beginning of new century there was an attitude to globalization as to the complex of economic, social and political processes which did not require the description within a certain united theory. The author explains wide spreading of the concept of theoretical literature first of all by the fact that it does not indicate the active subject of this process; it allows evading an issue of responsibility of certain social actors for these or those consequences of globalization. The author points out to the differences of globalization from ‘internationalization’ and ‘integration’, emphasizing that its essence is the formation of the system allowing the person or the company to cooperate with other people, corporations and social structures without applying for the intermediary role of the states. The serious (progressing) lagging of ‘political’ globalization from economic, information and social one is the main problem of the current stage of globalization described in the article.

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

Victor I. Danilov-Danilyan

Global Problem of Deficiency of Sweet Water Original text and References

The author considers reasons of emergence and strengthening of the deficiency of sweet water, it is shown that in the middle of the third decade of the 21st century this deficiency will inevitably increase in global scales and will cause restructuring of the world economy. Sectors of wet industry, water-efficient and water-protecting technologies will be increasingly developed in the world market while the markets of water will remain generally basinal because of sharp leap in costs for transportation of water when crossing the borders of basins. There are enormous resources of sweet water in Russia which use will allow to develop production of different types of wet industry to export scales and not only to satisfy the requirements of the world community, but also to provide high-quality economic growth in the country.

Ivan I. Masour

Global Energy Security Original text and References

Global character of the problems of energy security necessitates the creation of the world control system of energy resource balance for the benefit of humanity.

The article is devoted to those particular problems which allow presenting the modern panorama and contours of the future development of world energetics, and also to understand tasks facing the world community.

Alexander B. Weber

Global Climate Change: Who Is Guilty? and What to Do? Original text and References

Global climate change is caused by the activity of a man as it is proved by the latest research now. Consciousness of gravity of situation is gradually getting into the world public opinion. There is still an opportunity to mitigate effects, to avoid the worst. The scientific society suggested concrete recommendations to the government. Will politicians listen to the voice of scientists?

The Nobel Prize for Research of Climate. Interview with the Academician Yu. A. Izrael Original text and References

Vast territory of Russia is significantly non-homogenous to climate change potentially. Therefore regional studies are necessary, in particular, by means of regional models specifying estimates of the first approach given in the Fourth assessment report of IPCC.

GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES

Leonid E. Grinin

Globalization and Processes of Transformation of National Sovereignty Original text and References

The article is devoted to the analysis of one of very important but insufficiently studied aspects of the process of globalization i.e. to voluntary reduction of sovereign prerogatives of the modern states which is already observed within several decades. The author shows that globalization in general promotes change and reduction of the nomenclature and volume of sovereign powers of the states, and thus the process is bilateral: on the one hand, the factors which are objectively reducing sovereignty of the countries are strengthening, and on the other the majority of the states voluntary and deliberately goes towards its restriction.

Sergey Kashki; Paul Kalinichenko

Globalization of the Rule of Law: Influence on Russia and Countries of the European Union Original text and References

The present article is devoted to researching of development process and spreading of the conception of the rule of law. Having arisen as a liberal idea this concept extended as one of the main constitutional values for all European countries and peoples including the countries of the European Union (EU) today, and modern Russia. The experience of the EU countries shows that the rule of law can act as an integration idea and go beyond national borders. In global prospective the rule of law after the human rights has to become the practical conception of the structure of international system.

Anastasia V. Mitrofanova

Religious Factor in the World Politics and the Problem of ‘Civilizations’ Original text and References

The article is devoted to the role of religion in world politics. The author believes that religion appears on the world scene in the form of system of transnational communications between states, separate groups, communities and political movements. These connections are established ‘over’ the state lines, creating an additional system of interconnections. The author offers to call transnational religious systems ‘worlds’ or civilizations. These civilizations have broken structure and consist not only of the states, but also of non-state objects. Civilizations are united not by religions as such, but religious ideologies or ‘political religions’. Political religion presents the ideology allowing applying religion to policy.

Alexander V. Buzgalin

Alterglobalizm: Searching of the Positive Alternative of the New Empire Original text and References

‘… So who are they, ‘antiglobalists’? Whose money did they spend on the grandiose forums and demonstrations? What do they want? What do they speak for and against? Are they against globalization? But after all it is the objective process and to fight against it means to turn into luddites of the 21^st century…’

This way the author began one of the first works on alter-globalism problems five years ago. Then for the first time the term ‘alter-globalism’ was introduced showing that we are not against globalization, but we speak out for another, alternative neoliberal, globalization. Why did this movement emerge? What became an objective and subjective ground for its genesis and development? To answer these questions we should first of all analyze the process which is not incidentally called globalization and connected with genesis of the new empire.

RUSSIA IN THE GLOBAL WORLD

Sergey P. Kapitsa

Demographic Revolution and Russia Original text and References

Mankind is experiencing an era of global demographic revolution, the time when after explosive growth the world's population abruptly changes the trajectory of its development and passes suddenly to the limited reproduction. This greatest event in the history of mankind since the time of its emergence is shown first of all in the dynamics of the population. However it touches all the aspects of life of billions of people and just for this reason demographic processes became the most important global problem of the world and Russia. Not only the present, but also the expected future after the current critical epoch of changes, priorities and development disparity, stability of growth and global safety depend on their fundamental understanding. Phenomenological theory of increasing population basing on methods and models of physics gives a new understanding of the processes of changes.

Alexander V. Katsura

‘The World Tenderness’, or the Russian Way to Globalism Original text and References

Here we should think of the original internal impulses of communistic expansion. Anyway, but among other expansions we can see (as virtual opportunity which were obviously afraid in the West) that very invasion in Afghanistan in 1979 (as if starved for socialist liberators), and further, moving through Persia and Pakistan, an exit to the warm ocean where one can ‘wash out’ notorious boots at last. More specifically it is constructing cities, airfields and harbors. For the first time in history there would emerge an empire (Russian communistic) larger than the Chingizid empire. Thus neutral and friendly India and military and friendly China skillfully withheld under the power of the pro-Russian communists are located on vast expanses of Southeast Asia. Thus the world controlling stake is provided. The problem of Western Europe would still remain unsolved. Well, that Napoleon (and Hitler) did not finish, their mortal friends from the East would complete.

GLOBAL PERSON

Valeri M. Leibin

Aurelio Peccei: Strokes to the Portrait Original text and References

Quite recently a series of publications ‘100 people who changed the course of history’ was published. It was devoted to the outstanding people who turned the world around, to those legendary people who had the greatest impact on policy, art, religion, the industry and other areas of modern civilization.

Boris G. Rezhabek

V. I. Vernadsky's Doctrine about Noosphere and Searching of the Way out from Global Crises Original text and References

V. I. Vernadsky's idea about Noosphere i. e. the sphere of Reason, developed in the works of the French scientists E. Le Roy and P. Teilhard de Chardin, became a foundation of the doctrine about Noosphere which actively develops in Russia today and can give qualitatively new solutions of the problems connected with ‘global threats’ – ecological, resource, energy, demographic, focusing a geopolitics vector on protection of the interests of mankind as whole. Holistic noospheric worldview relying on ideas not only of the Rights, but also of Duties of the Person and oneness of Mankind is necessary for creation of the real strategy of the solution of global problems of the present capable to combine the efforts of representatives of science, religion and philosophy with the opportunities of politicians and businessmen of the different countries of the world.

SCIENTIFIC LIFE

Olga V. Malyukova

Philosophical and Methodological Research of Global Studies Original text and References

Igor F. Kefeli; OlgaV. Plebanek

Global Studies and Geopolitics (Symposium) Original text and References

REVIEWS, SUMMARIES, REPORTS

Discussion of the Encyclopedia ‘Global Studies’ in the Club of Scientists ‘Global World’ Original text and References