A new world war for developed countries is a versatile tool solving the problems of the current global financial and economic crisis in the world economy. Under these conditions, the world’s actors, especially the United States, extremely need permanent “enemy-ally”, whose role before was traditionally played by the Russian Empire, later on — the USSR. This explains the feverish attempts by all means to draw Russia into a military conflict in the Ukraine.

World in the XXI century is a world of unprecedented changes. International relations are undergoing radical transformation too. Although mankind still witnesses unhealthy and humiliating polarization, existence of billion of poor people, abuse of law, veiled or provoking violence against those who are weaker, the old world nevertheless retreats. Getting rid of these “gifts” of the past is a difficult and long matter. The situation is like this also because these shifts are hampered by the West, primarily by the USA and its suzerains. Washington is trying to prolong the unipolar world — Pax Americana, which entered into the terminal phase of hopeless crisis. But the world has seriously changed: it crossed the line where hegemonies were still possible and untouchable. That’s why Pax Americana’s lifecycle is so short, almost fleeting. History now overtakes Empires much faster….

Emirate of Qatar, small in area and population, being a coastal state of the Persian Gulf, from year to year is demonstrating dynamic economic growth thanks to constantly growing income from hydrocarbon exports. According to experts of the British audit firm Ernst&Young and the Oxford Economics Institute, Qatar has topped the rating of the fastest growing markets in 2000-2010. The author particularly analyzes dynamics of the main socio-economic indicators of the country during the 2000s and also describes important provisions of the national government programs for medium and long-term periods. The study presents conclusions regarding the present situation and prospects of emirate’s economic development in the future.

The article analyzes trends and causes of the fertility decline in the intercensal period of 2002–2010 and temporary increase of the total birth rate in 2007–2014 from 1,3 to 1,7 children per woman due to improving implementation conditions of the existing need of the family mainly for two children by increasing child allowances and introducing “maternity capital”. The article discusses objectives and means of enhancing familydemographic state policy in connection with the upcoming in 2015–2025 reduction in reproductive 18–34 years old cohorts and continuing attenuation of family need for children and decrease of individual reproductive values.

The article presents a comparative analysis of various forecast options of major demographic indicators dynamics for Russia up to 2030. Data of Rosstat and the UNO forecasts are used. Assumptions underlying forecasts are analyzed and possible dynamics of fertility and mortality indicators are assessed. The article also examines, based on the index method, the contribution of various birth-rate components (fertility intensity, proportion of reproductive age women and the age structure of reproductive contingent) in the overall dynamics of this indicator.

The article proposes a systematic, pragmatic and creative approach to analyzing status and prospects of the Russian economy development in the context of global instability. This approach is distinguished by economic reality perception in all its complexity, characterized by nonlinearity, non-equilibrium and uncertainty of socio-economic development processes, by their laws awareness. On the basis of its application the authors have developed proposals for implementing an integrated public policies system for economy development and modernization on the advanced structural and technological basis, the implementation of which will accelerate the pace of economic growth and will allow to pass on to innovative development define for Russian economy in the world economic system. Nevertheless, let’s look at the situation from a viewpoint of non-economist.

The author analyzes importance of program-objective approach for ensuring Russia’s national economy competitiveness, focusing on the need to create conditions for the resources and efforts concentration on addressing priority directions of the Russian economy development, its real sector in the face of increasing economic and political confrontation during transition to a multipolar world community. The article studies international experience of program-objective approach for increasing competitiveness.

The article dwells on topical issues of borders security of the Customs Union participants in the current conditions, as well as on combating cross-border challenges and threats, aimed at destabilizing the sociopolitical and economic situation in its territory.

Many states include the word “federation” in their name, which allows to assume that most people have positive perception of federalism as a form of governance. Switzerland and some other countries have shown how fiscal federalism can work in practice for the benefit of society. At the same time, the states that try to copy this undoubtedly positive experience, as a rule, encounter significant difficulties. The article shows how fiscal federalism can influence economic growth of the state and explains why “working” federalism occurs so rarely.

Many different opinions on the prospects of the Russian economy were expressed by the last economic year results: from restrained-optimistic to very pessimistic ones. At the Davos forum our representatives (from government and big business) as usual (learned) in a businesslike tone not admitting objections were speaking for some reason to the whole world about the internal developments of the Russian Federation and the problems, which are not of interest to anyone but ourselves. It is practically impossible to draw up conclusions from these statements about how we will ensure sustainable development and what role we define for Russian economy in the world economic system. Nevertheless, let’s look at the situation from a viewpoint of non-economist.