ON CULTURAL EXTREMISM AND WAYS TO OVERCOME ITS MANIFESTATION

Extremism prevention is an essential component of the work in the field of national security of the country. The article reveals some of the main forms of extremism, such as religious-political, ethno-social, economic, pseudoscientific, and others, and provides examples. The main content of the article is devoted to the disclosure of the essence and diversity of manifestations of cultural extremism in the country, especially in the North Caucasus and Dagestan. Numerous concrete examples are given, proving that cultural extremism takes place and sometimes takes on quite acute forms. It is shown that the manifestations of cultural extremism are more difficult to combat, since it manifests itself among more literate and intellectually savvy people and does not have open ideologically organized forms, as in the case of religious and political extremism. The article considers the current law of the Russian Federation and the draft new law on culture, which notes all the mechanisms for overcoming extremism in culture, and which clearly emphasize the primacy of the rights and freedoms of an individual creative personality.

2ND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC FORUM "CASPIAN REGION 2021: WAYS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT" MAY 26-28 2021, ASTRAKHAN

The article gives an overview of the scientific forum "Caspian Region 2021: Ways of Sustainable Development" held on May 26-28, 2021 in the city of Astrakhan on the basis of the Astrakhan State University. The brief overview introduces the main directions of the forum related to the priority vectors of the Caspian macro-region development, touching upon the issues of cooperation in the scientific and educational sphere on the scale of the Great Caspian Sea, the development of the transport and logistics cluster, integrated safety and security in the context of the economic, cultural, environmental and geopolitical components, youth policy and education development issues. The International Scientific Forum "Caspian Region 2021: Ways of Sustainable Development" united leaders of the science system, higher education and youth policy, leading scientists, experts of higher education and will become the driver of the Year of Science and Technology in Russia. More than 20 events took place within the framework of the Forum: panel discussions, a national conference with international participation, a meeting of the Commission on Science, Research and Technology of the Association of State Universities of the Caspian Countries, a joint meeting of the Council of Rectors of Universities of the Southern Federal District and the North Caucasus Federal District, a meeting of the Caspian Discussion Club, round tables, excursions, presentations, lectures on relevant topics.

REVIEW OF ENCYCLOPEDIA BY IGOR S. ZONN, ANDREY G. KOSTIANOY, ALEKSEY N. KOSAREV AND MICHAEL H. GLANTZ "THE CASPIAN SEA ENCYCLOPEDIA"

This work reviews an encyclopedia edited by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg “ The Caspian Sea Encyclopedia”. Springer; 2010-th edition (June 23, 2010). Authors: Igor S. Zonn, Andrey G. Kostianoy, Aleksey N. Kosarev, Michael H. Glantz. Volume: 536 pages. Date of publication: June 23, 2010. ISBN-10: 3642115233; ISBN-13: 978-3642115233. Hard cover. Language: English.

SEMIOTICS IN THE WRAPPERS (CHADORSAHB) OF “TONEKABON” REGION UP TO “RUDSAR”

Wrapper weaving is an ancient art in the regions of East Guilan and West Mazandaran, in which the motifs used in it are woven according to the culture and customs of the people of these regions, which has made this feature unique in the wrapper. In this article, in addition to expressing the cultural aspects of the themes, an attempt has been made to study the visual diversity of the drawings along with its special feature in the wrapper.The hypothesis that is proven here is that the patterns characterize the simple way of thinking that is derived from nature and the environment around them.The research method is descriptive-analytical with field and library studies and is indepth.In general, the results indicate that the drawings used in the wrapper are inspired by the environment of the weavers and by the tools of the wrapper art itself.Also, the culture of symbols and signs in the art of wrapper weaving can be matched with the culture and traditions of other regions;This means that symbols and signs have a function beyond the clime of any region and can cover a large part of a land.Wrapper motifs in all weaves of the study, show the following of specific patterns along with symmetry, order and rhythm. Research method in the present study was done using the library and field methods.

CASPIAN GEOPOLITICAL SPACE IN THE REGIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM

The article deals with the features of the current state and development of the Caspian geopolitical space, which is known as "Greater Caspian Region". The uniqueness of the natural complex is distinguished by the unity of the Caspian ecosystem, biological diversity, and inexhaustible recreational opportunities. The natural resource and capacities in transportation and communication links of the region represent the Great Caspian Sea as one of "the world's largest oil and gas hydrocarbon deposits" (Hoagland, 2019, p. 10-11). As a special geopolitical and economic space, the Caspian Sea is also united by a long shared history, culture and identity of the peoples who lived within the territory. (Romanova, 2012). "Greater Caspian Region" or "the Central Region of Eurasia", through which new models of international relations is constructed between the world leaders in this area, takes a new look at the Eurasian space and allows to describe the region through modern science paradigm considering the latest geopolitical developments and interdisciplinary research. Under the emergence of new world economic order, the Caspian Sea can be represented as an "island of interfacing worlds" - "East and West", as a geopolitical space that attracts the world's leading players and where a new multipolar world order that is based on the "rift" of the technological and world economic structures develops (Markelov, Golovina, 2020, p.16). This paper studies a set of basic aspects of a new approach to assessing the Caspian region, establishing its current geopolitical and geo-economic positions, as well as promising areas for strategic research and development. The object of this study is the geopolitical concept of the " Greater Caspian Region", the subject is the problems of: The Greater Caspian Sea; Eurasia; space; security; development strategy; geopolitics; the new world economic order. The objective of this research is to create an integrated analytical security system in the Caspian region that takes into account political and geographical factors, in their relation to economy, environment and information flows.

SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC THREATS TO THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE CASPIAN SEA REGION

Stable economic development, timely neutralization of challenges and threats are the most important prerequisites for economic security of Russia and its regions. Uneven spatial development of the Russian Federation and the increasing differentiation in the regional development are listed as the main challenges and threats to economic security in the Economic Security Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030. The socio-economic development of the Caspian regions is characterized by significant disparities, which determined the purpose of the research. Particular attention is paid to the study of inter-regional differentiation as a threat to economic security. An analytical review of the indicators of socio-economic development in these constituent territories of the Russian Federation allowed for identification of various risks and threats to economic security. The analysis allowed the author to conclude that when assessing threats to the economic security of the regions, it is necessary to take into account territorial, sectoral features, multi-ethnicity, etc. Hence, it is necessary to enhance the quantitative assessment indicators, complementing them with qualitative level indicators. In order to achieve the necessary objectivity, depth and comprehensiveness in understanding, taking into account the realities of modernity, the author recommends assessing state's economic security in the regions and the policy of ensuring it from an interdisciplinary perspective, relying on economic science as well as on other areas of scientific knowledge.

A NEW WORD IN THE SECURITY OF RUSSIAN REPUBLIC: THE QUESTION OF THE COSSACK ARMY ORGANIZATION IN AUGUST - SEPTEMBER, 1917

The objective of the article is to examine projects aimed at strengthening the security of Russia through the formation of a Cossack (cavalry) army. A similar operational and strategic association owes its practical origin to the Soviet Republic; the Whites also had corresponding projects (in particular, those of P.N. Wrangel). The author of the article managed to establish the fact that projects of creation of such formations existed much earlier, in August - September, 1917, and their realization would not only provide safety of the Russian republic, but also would influence the combat effectiveness of the Russian active army and prospects of the final stage of Russia's participation in the World War I. This determines the scientific novelty of the research. The objectives of the article are to analyze the projects of the formation of the Cossack army of the Russian Republic in the summer-autumn of 1917, as well as the reform of the Cossack cavalry, its division into army and strategic cavalry. After the corresponding reform, the Cossack cavalry (including all 3 Astrakhan Cossack regiments) became the most important operational and strategic tool and reserve of the Russian active army at the final stage of World War I. The article is based on previously unpublished archival documents extracted from the archives of the Russian State Military Historical Archive (RGVIA). Research methods: archive study, historico-comparative analysis and historico-systemic analysis.

PIVOTAL REGION OF EURASIA’S GEOPOLITICAL HISTORY

Each geopolitical region has its own geographical strongholds, around which the format of their history, culture and politics emerges and develops. In Eurasia, such a region is the Caspian Sea region, with its adjoining territories. This region determines the "political weather" on this continent. The pivotal region of Eurasian geopolitical history contains answers to many mysteries of the political past of Europe and Asia: the ideas of the three world religions, which played a key role in the spiritual development of all mankind, originated and spread in this continent. From this region, rapid processes emerged and gained strength, which swept like bloody whirlwinds across the entire Eurasian space from Vladivostok to Lisbon. And all of them, to some extent, affected the pivotal region of Eurasia, spinning it with their events. From the Roman Empire in the West to the Japanese Empire in the East, the political history of Eurasia is a story of continuous alternation (rise and fall) of empires and the struggle of various peoples for imperial status. Two trends accompanied the genesis of empires - the desire for domination and the need for security. The Caspian region has become an intersection of these separate histories into a common history of Eurasia. This paper analyzes the impact of this region on Eurasian history.

INTEGRATION AND CENTRIFUGAL TENDENCIES IN THE CASPIAN REGION: LEGAL ASPECTS

The article analyzes the legal basis for cooperation of the states of the Caspian region - Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. With the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in 2018, the relations between five countries have reached a qualitatively new level. While with the collapse of the Soviet Union centrifugal trends dominated cooperation, especially after the former Soviet republics gained independence, recent years have been characterized by centripetal tendencies, and the COVID-19 crisis has clearly demonstrated that only by joint efforts the countries can confront today's challenges and threats. An important aspect of cooperation among the Caspian littoral states is their membership in various integration groupings, which imposes certain obligations on these states, undoubtedly affecting their interaction in the Caspian region.

THE CONCEPT OF SOCIETAL SECURITY: THEORY, DISCUSSION, AND CASPIAN PERSPECTIVES

The issue of ensuring security remains one of the most important for the social sciences at the present stage. In recent decades, the concept of societal security, which tracks its origin to Copenhagen School, has been increasingly prominent. The purpose of this article is to systematize the main provisions of the societal approach to security and to identify the possibility of its operational application to the study of the Caspian region. The main provisions of the societal approach include the following factors: the reference object of the research is the so-called "societal community"; the basis for the existence of such a community is a collective, most often cultural, sometimes confessional identity; this problem is always considered in relation to a certain social space, which is transformed under the influence of political, economic, and environmental factors. Traditionally, the societal approach has been applied to the analysis of security problems in the European space: the Baltic States, Spain, there is an experience of its application to African society in some Asian countries. Another interesting area for analysis may be the Caspian region, which after the collapse of the USSR has become a strategically important Euro-Asian geopolitical and economic hub. However, the regional specifics require researcher to implement a creative application of this approach, taking into account both theoretical criticisms and the specifics of the space itself.