This article is devoted to China‘s foreign expansion in various fields. In particular, the author analyzes the country‘s transport policy through the prism of opportunities and risks associated with the nature of modern international relations. As a result, it is concluded that the People‘s Republic of China (PRC) claims the status of a superpower, which cannot but cause a response from the current hegemon and its allies. As a forecast, attention is focused on the fact that in the medium term, China will be able to expand its influence in many regions of the world, but this dominance will not be total due to the inconsistency of modern international relations.

The most important achievement of the CSTO in 2020 was overcoming the possible crisis caused by the second war in Nagorno-Karabakh, and preventing the strengthening of the influence of the military-political bloc of NATO in the South Caucasus. The author also examines the current problems of the Treaty Organization, which hinder its development and prevent the strengthening of Russia’s military and political positions in the post-Soviet space. Solutions are proposed that can strengthen its international credibility.

The article analyzes the history, current state and main directions and prospects of the development of the influence of the Republic of Turkey in the republics of Central Asia. The impact of various institutions created by Ankara in different years to expand and deepen partnership with the countries of the region is assessed. The main elements of the Turkish “soft power” in Central Asia are considered. The ongoing global economic and geopolitical transformations create a wide field for various options for the development of Turkish policy in the Central Asian region.

This article analyzes the activities of state and non-state actors-representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany on the territory of Ukraine in the field of politics, economy, military cooperation and the activities of German non-state and non-profit organizations in the state in question over the past decade. It was concluded that in the 2010s, despite the qualitative change of German policy towards Ukraine, caused by the 2014 crisis, it continues to be caried out in course of slow, but systematic consolidation of this state as it’s sphere of influence. Involvement of the Russian Federation in processes of affiliation change in politics, economics etc. in Ukraine and other states of post-Soviet space will result in their de-facto legitimisation and the loss of RF’s influence on these territories.

The article is devoted to the analysis of existing interpretations of the “legitimacy” and “legitimation” concepts in the system of power relations, scientific understanding of modern practice and models of legitimation of state power. The authors pay special attention to the substantiation of the influence of the national characteristics of the formation of state relations in Russia, its political culture on the forms and models of the legitimation of power in Russian society. A significant place in the article is devoted to the study of the factors and technologies of legitimizing power in the city of Moscow, taking into account the peculiarities of political processes in the city-metropolis. The theoretical basis of the article is the research of Russian and foreign scientists in the field of political science, history, sociology. The practical part of the study was a set of sociological data that make it possible to judge the importance of personified and technocratic legitimacy in the modern political realities of Russia.

It is worth analysing the “One Belt – One Road” project in terms of economic benefits and advantages provided to the member countries. According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, direct investment from China to countries participating in Belt and Road Initiative has surged from $200 million in 2003 to $14.53 billion in 2016. Since the establishment of One Belt, One Road, contracts have been concluded for over $126.03 billion. This mighty ambitious project has a significant impact on the countries concerned.

The article demonstrates the history of the reform of customs authorities in the late 19th – early 20th centuries, using the example of Siberian customs in the Russian Empire, indicating the applicable legislative documents. It tells about the creation and abolition of customs in Western and Eastern Siberia, on the vast territory of this region of Russia, trade with a neighbor, primarily with China. The problems and specifics of the contraband movement of goods in the specified region are touched upon.