2026 Issue №1

The article constitutes the first part of a broader study devoted to the analysis of Fourth World theory and the evolution of the contemporary world order. This first part presents the results of a brief analysis of the differences and specific features in the scholarly use of the terms “world order,” “international order,” and “international relations.” The methodologi­cal framework combines elements of historical and political analysis, a comparative typologi­cal approach, and an interpretation of nation-building processes under conditions of imperial transformation. The article offers a general explanation of the current role and possible future of the foundation of contemporary “international relations”—the phenomenon of the nation-state. The author argues that the idea of the existence of “nations” (and “nation-states”) is unstable and, on this basis, proposes one possible (though undesirable) scenario for the devel­opment of human societies in the event of the collapse of this idea. The study examines the phenomenon of a specific historical type of world order that emerged at the turn of the nine­teenth and twentieth centuries. Its aim is to conceptualize this order as an independent model of world organization. The article demonstrates that this order was characterized by the con­centration of power in a limited number of nation-states (world powers) that exercised control over multiethnic societies and pursued policies of cultural and political unification. It estab­lishes that such a configuration contributed to the formation of an asymmetrical system of subordination among peoples and to the legitimation of a hierarchical structure of interna­tional relations. Analysis of this historical stage makes it possible to identify the origins of subsequent models of world order.

Based on a review of the contemporary state family policy of the Russian Federation re­garding the formation of family values, the article presents specific proposals for its improve­ment, using Saint Petersburg as a case study. The novelty of the study lies in a comprehen­sive approach that combines the analysis of the legal framework, statistical data, and sociolog­ical surveys to evaluate the value-based component of family policy within the specific context of Saint Petersburg. The methodology includes the analysis of scholarly literature (sociologi­cal theories of the family) and legal documents, secondary analysis of official statistics, and examination of data from sociological surveys of Saint Petersburg residents. The study con­cludes that, despite the extensive legal framework, the effectiveness of implemented measures in Saint Petersburg cannot be unambiguously assessed. First, negative trends are identified—such as declining marriage and birth rates, an increase in serious crimes among minors, and a rise in divorces—coexisting with positive developments, including the growth of large fami­lies, the maintenance of high educational achievements among schoolchildren, and the high status of children and the family in public opinion. Second, the article proposes new practice-oriented mechanisms to strengthen the family institution, such as the development of family mentorship programs, the creation of family education centers, and the implementation of targeted cultural and recreational projects. The study argues that enhancing the effectiveness of family policy requires a shift from primarily demographic and material approaches to a comprehensive strategy aimed at forming and supporting the value foundations of the family. The high public demand for family values observed in Saint Petersburg provides a favorable environment for implementing the proposed initiatives, which are expected to increase the number of stable family unions, improve parental competence, and strengthen intergenera­tional ties.

The study examines the instruments for shaping post-Soviet macro-identity in the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia). Macro-identification is defined in a narrow sense as a political technology of civilizational reorientation, involving a break with historical and cul­tural ties to Greater Russia and the formation of new connections with the Western world. The article proposes a theoretical integration of the concepts of macro-political identity (O. Yu. Malinova), hybrid identity, and the civilizational paradigm approach. The methodo­logical framework of the study is based on a constructionist approach to the phenomenon of identity. The analysis of policies for transforming historical memory in the Baltics draws on data from a series of focus groups conducted in the Pskov Region at the Center for Assistance to Resettlement “Compatriot.” A qualitative content analysis of leading media in the Baltic countries provided the empirical material necessary to test the hypothesis that macro-identity is shaped through the promotion of media symbols and meaning-laden narratives. The study identifies key new factors influencing the formation of macro-identity, including orientation toward new geopolitical trends, the popularization of independent social networks, and the perception of the Western world as progressive. Based on the results of the study, macro-identification is conceptualized as a political instrument for transitioning states from one civilizational paradigm to another, performing the function of transforming large civiliza­tional formations. Using the Baltic states as an example, the study demonstrates a transition from the Soviet to the Western civilizational paradigm, along with the transformation of sym­bolic practices, normative frameworks, and foreign policy orientation.