Abstract: The article considers such a social phenomenon as social trust, the degree of knowledge of this phenomenon. The author gives a definition of social trust. Social trust is considered as one of the factors of quality of life. The transformation of social trust from an industrial society to the contemporary stage is being studied, including the stage of the global crisis amid a pandemic. The main trends in changes in social communication during a pandemic are analyzed and a forecast is given for further changes in the principles of building trust. The emphasis is on the fact that after the pandemic social trust will be easier to arise in the virtual space than in the physical. The author names the criteria of social trust.

The basic criteria of social trust in modern media communication are considered.

The concept of sovereignty is now a cross-cutting and general scientific problem. In relation to Russian-Belarusian relations, it is primarily related to issues of economic sovereignty. Ideally, the solution of theoretical questions and practical actions in the field of integration should be spaced over time. However, in practice this is not always possible. Country economic models are not a new subject of study. However, there are not many such works in Belarus. In the article, the authors tried not only to indicate significant points of the Belarusian economic model. The need to develop integration within the framework of the union state of Russia and Belarus is practically not disputed by anyone. In practice, however, this integration has been slow. From our point of view, one of the reasons for this situation is the inattention to the fact that over 30 years of post-Soviet development in Belarus, as well as throughout the post- Soviet space, different economic models have developed. Understanding economic sovereignty in the era of globalization 2.0 is a difficult task for theorists and practitioners. How to reconcile the traditions of sovereignty and the need to deepen integration? This article is devoted to these issues.

Justification of the political elite as the key socio-political resource of military security is the purpose of this article. The method of research is structural and functional analysis of mili tary security through the prism of activating its socio-political resource. As a result of the research, a new approach to classifying the functions of modern political elites as a key resource of military security has been proposed. The article concludes that military security today should be understood as all actions of power structures of the military organization, authorities at all levels of government, as well as public organizations, which are aimed at preventing and neutralizing real and possible threats and dangers of military nature. The problem of military security is one of the central issues for any modern state, since, along with the process of universal globalization, the authorities continue to be the guarantor of the rights and freedoms of their people. Military security is considered to be actions of power structures of the military organization, authorities at all levels of government, as well as public organizations. These institutions and structures aim at preventing and neutralizing any possible threat that is military in nature. Military security and its effectiveness depends on the activities and ideology of political elites in identifying, preventing, eliminating or minimizing of threats. Decision-making on military security takes place with the participation of the entire military and political leadership of the country, which is part of the political elite, and with direct or indirect influence of the wider political elites. The article substantiates the main functions of modern political elites. They include geopolitical function (formation and reproduction of geographic and political-communication borders); normalization function (interpretation of the “normality” of the state in the context of war/world); communication function (ability to understand social interests, values and demands). The author comes to the conclusion that the basis of modern domestic political effectiveness is the stable character of the formation and functioning of the elite, i. e. overcoming its internal fragmentation and fragmentation.

The article is devoted to identifying the current image of Russia in the mirror of the German media after the Ukrainian crisis. The role of the media is noted, the crisis situation in Ukraine is characterized. Analyzed publications in the leading print media of Germany on the topic of Russian foreign policy in Ukraine and the role of the Russian Federation in the political crisis in Ukraine (2013–2014). The authors have identified and identified key approaches in the formation of German society a certain idea of Russia and its foreign policy. As conclusions, it is noted that both for objective reasons, and not least thanks to the German media, which use a lot of negative characteristics when constructing the image of Russia, relations between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany go through a zone of mutual exclusion. However, relations between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany can go to a new level, taking into account the possible pragmatic cooperation of the two states, and provided, among other things, a reduction in the degree of anti-Russian rhetoric in the German media.

The global architecture of computer networks poses a security dilemma: while modern information and communication technologies allow adversaries to challenge the exclusive power of states over “his own” cyberspace, following traditional notions of sovereignty, respectively, may limit the ability of states to actively counter challenges and threats in global networks. The aim of the study is to determine the possible scope of application of the traditional territorial concept of sovereignty to the activities of states in cyberspace. The article shows that regarding the activities of states and individuals in cyberspace, the scope of the principle of sovereignty is determined by the practical imperatives of states and depends on the sphere of interstate and cross-border interactions affected. Therefore, for example, for the purposes of warfare, there are three levels at which objects for destruction will be determined: physical network, logical network, network user. Other criteria are important for developers, operators and network analysts, and, according to a number of proposals, a global network can include up to seven levels (physical, data transfer, network, transport, session, data, applications). The article demonstrates that despite the exceptional nature of the powers and jurisdictions of the state in relation to the physical level of cyberspace, its logical and social levels are open to cross-border manifestations of the jurisdiction of other states on the basis of the proximity criterion. That is, for those cases when states can establish a real connection with digital objects or online personalities, and, accordingly, exercise authority.

The article considers the identity of Scottish Muslims as a non-traditional for Scotland sociocultural manifestation of globalization of regional socio-political processes. The relevance of this topic is determined by the fact that the number of Muslims as a part of population of Scotland has been growing rapidly over the past decade. In this regard, the range of questions about the future national sovereignty of Scotland is significantly expanding, requiring the search for scientific, theoretical and practical answers. The research goal of the article is to analyze the influence of Islamic identity on domestic political processes in Scotland. To achieve this goal, the authors rely on general logic, institutional, stating factual and comparative methods used in political science. In addition, the article uses the data of socio-anthropological and psychological research conducted on the subject by foreign colleagues. As a result of the research, the authors identified the activation the Scottish authorities’ activities, who are forced (within the framework of internal policy) to develop comprehensive measures aimed at Scots who confess Islam. The article deals with the issues of political participation of Muslims, Islamic extremism and others, the practical solution of which, according to the authors, is connected with the problem of Muslims integration into the Scottish society (traditionally Christian). In this regard, the authors attach particular importance to the peculiarities of Islamic identity in the modern Scottish society. The authors come to the conclusion that this identity is a socio-cultural manifestation of global civilizational processes and it contains plenty of internal contradictions caused by a number of objective reasons, the main of which is the discrepancy between two civilizational codes: the traditional (native Scottish, Christian, European) and the non-traditional (brought from the outside, Muslim, Asian).

The research highlights the ethnopolitical conflict within the European Union (using the example of the South Tyrol autonomy). The article states the reasons for the formation of separatist sentiments on the territory of this region, considers in detail the foreign policy activities of the Republic of Austria and the relationship between Austria and Italy. This paper discusses the historical background and the current state of the ethnopolitical conflict in the South Tyrol region. The purpose of the study is to disclose the nature and manifestations of the conflict, policy statements, documents, reasons and actions of Austrian and Italian officials, aimed at escalating as well as settlement of the conflict. Taking into consideration the objectives and preferences of the local population, the authors question the possibility of further autonomization of the Italian province and its political self-determination. However, they do not exclude the future aggravation of the conflict and exacerbation of the Austria-Italy relations in the context of the European Union transformation.

Mergers and acquisitions are a recognized and effective mechanism for the development of companies. Depending on the goals, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can strengthen the organization’s market position, create new competitive advantages, enter new sales markets, acquire missing competencies, radically change key business parameters and improve the company’s structure. In Russia, the theoretical and methodological foundations of mergers and acquisitions are represented quite widely. Investigated the processes of mergers and acquisitions, examined the possible negative effects reflected in the decline in the value of the combined company. The development of business processes, primarily digital transformation, has a significant impact on the effectiveness of M&A. In 2016–2019 Among the 10 largest M&A transactions, both in the world and in Russia, information technology companies are regularly included. The paper considers one of the most relevant trends in the modern world - the digital transformation of the business, as well as the dependence on technologies and digital technologies, occurring not only in the IT company, but also in the non-technology sector company. The purpose of the research is to prove the direct relationship between digital transformation and M&A. In the course of the research, the following methods were used: analysis and synthesis, comparison, assessment and generalization of research results and reports of consulting companies. It is proved that digitalization is one of the most important reasons and drivers. The main recommendations for their implementation were formulated.

Objectives. We identify and investigate circumstances that limit an application of the Five Focusing Steps of the Theory of Constraints in the strategic analysis of investment projects effectiveness.
Methods. The methods of factor analysis and financial mathematics including methods for evaluation real options are used.
Results. It is shown that in some cases, an increase in business value can be created only by a combination of a number of investment projects, leading to consistent removal of constraints and arising of useful synergistic effects. It is also shown that a value of a project can be determined by changes in the strategy that the company will have the opportunity to make if project is implemented. In such cases, their evaluation without taking into account subsequent decisions may distort their true value.
Conclusions and Relevance. We concluded that the main object of evaluation in strategic analysis should be a strategy as a series of future transformations, taking into account the real options generated by them. Therefore, the evaluation of single projects on the base of the Theory of Constraints can lead the rejection of valuable projects due to distortion of their true value. At the same time an application of the Five Focusing Steps in strategic analysis protect against investment in projects with negative net present value.

In the context of the digital economy formation the level of innovative development of the enterprise is a marker of the readiness of the economic system for digital transformation. Digital transformation makes it possible to digitize all the aspects of the business that generate interfaces for interacting with clients and then digital technologies are used to obtain results through the implementation of innovative strategies and the production of innovative products. The results of the study in which the subject is the methodological aspects of assessing the level of innovative development of an enterprise are relevant. The article formulates the necessary conditions for ensuring the economic efficiency of enterprises of various industries and fields of activity (the availability of innovative potential, a sufficient level of innovative development, high readiness to develop and implement a leader’s strategy). The scientific hypothesis is the assumption that it is necessary to use a methodological approach based on the phased implementation of assessment procedures and the use of assessment methods corresponding to each stage. An algorithm for assessing the level of innovative development of an enterprise is proposed, the concept of innovative potential is clarified and its structure which takes into account the digital transformation of the economy is determined. The indicators of assessing innovative potential and the level of innovative development of the enterprise are substantiated. The proposed methodological approach was tested using the enterprises in the field of housing and communal services of the BFA Group management company.

The purpose: the article substantiates the importance of the country’s adoption of the strategic planning document «Strategy for the development of the higher education system in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030».
Materials and methods: the research uses theoretical and empirical methods, logical and system analysis, methods of description, prediction and expert assessments. The theoretical basis of the research is the method of strategic management developed by the famous economist, doctor of economic sciences, professor, foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Kvint.
Results: the analysis of numerous definitions of the concept and essence of strategy existing in the scientific literature is carried out, and a number of key positions in its definition are highlighted. Justifications are given for the criteria for developing strategies, using the example of the Strategy for the development of the country’s higher education system for the long term. The features of developing a strategy for the development of higher education are defined, and the hierarchy of levels of the strategy system is presented in relation to the strategy for the development of domestic higher education.
Discussion: the strategy proposed for adoption should reflect the state and prospects of development of the higher education system, with the definition of Russia’s position in the world educational space, current challenges and threats facing higher education, identify strategic priorities, goals and objectives, mechanisms and stages of implementation of the strategy, propose scenarios for the development of the higher education system, identify sources of resources for the implementation of the strategy, expected results and monitoring of its implementation.
Conclusion: it is noted that various state programs, national, Federal and priority projects, and action plans related to the development of the higher education system are being developed and approved in the country. However, there is no key strategic planning document — the Strategy for the development of the higher education system in Russia for the long term (for example, until 2030). In this regard, it is very relevant to develop and adopt this strategy, which undoubtedly takes into account the historically established traditions and features of the national higher school.

The article considers such a social phenomenon as social trust, the degree of knowledge of this phenomenon. The author gives a definition of social trust. Social trust is considered as one of the factors of quality of life. The transformation of social trust from an industrial society to the contemporary stage is being studied, including the stage of the global crisis amid a pandemic. The main trends in changes in social communication during a pandemic are analyzed and a forecast is given for further changes in the principles of building trust. The emphasis is on the fact that after the pandemic social trust will be easier to arise in the virtual space than in the physical. The author names the criteria of social trust. The basic criteria of social trust in modern media communication are considered.

The article discusses the prospects for the development of regional systems of secondary vocational education (on the basis of basic general education) through the prism of assessing the demand for secondary vocational education and covering this level of education in the context of demography and competition from schools Keywords: secondary vocational education, demand for education, educational coverage, private educational organizations, regional education system.

The article is devoted to the study of the problems of local self-government in Russia in the late XIX — early XX centuries. The article analyzes the views of the Russian monarchist L. A. Tikhomirov through the prism of the main conservative movements in Russia at that time.

The purpose of this article is to identify barriers to the implementation of digitalization of local (municipal) government in a large city through an analysis of digitalization tools and strategies. In order to answer this question, an analysis of the e-government and digitialization of municipal governance frameworks in particular was conducted. The theory of diffusion of innovation and the concept of e-government (e-governance and local e-governance) formed the theoretical basis of the study. The empirical base of the research was formed by foreign and Russian platforms used in municipal governance: «Fix My Street», «Creative Citizens», «coUrbanize», «Urban Interactive Studio», «CityPlanner», «Commonplace», «Sticky World», «Crowdgauge», «Твой бюджет», «Наш Санкт-Петербург». Qualitative analysis of digital and text data was used as a method. The experience of implementation of digitization tools at local level of power in different countries was also analyzed. The conclusions made in this work are applicable to large cities and are mainly focused on the Russian Federation. The application of e-governance principles has three components: information transfer in the digital space, transactions and communication in it. If implemented correctly and gradually in a municipal administration, digitalization can increase citizen involvement and trust in government. Nevertheless, the characteristics of municipal government should not be underestimated before digital technologies are used. In many large cities, an established system of local government should be implemented before digitalization. When developing a strategy for implementation of digital technologies, it is important to understand the model of habitual behavior of residents of a given municipal entity, because a universal approach does not always yield positive results. The main barriers to digitalization include: the need for continuous improvement of security systems and methods of storage and processing of citizens’ data using cloud technologies, including the development of appropriate strategies and government programs, the need to adapt the various tools of digitalization to the requirements and capabilities of the local community, the difficulty in assessing citizens’ demand for certain electronic resources, the need for related training activities for both citizens and municipal employees themselves; the need to engage independent experts from different fields to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of municipalities’ electronic portals and platforms.