No 3 (2025)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the value foundations underlying the reception and institutionalization of the communitarian concept of subsidiarity in contemporary Russian society. In contrast to the liberal interpretation of subsidiarity, which is grounded in the principles of negative liberty and individual autonomy, the communitarian approach views this principle through the lens of social solidarity, communal bonds, and collective responsibility. The subject of analysis is the contradiction between the theoretical appeal of the communitarian understanding of subsidiarity and the lack of empirical data on the readiness of Russian society to adopt it. The authors examine the value structure of Russian society by analyzing traditional values of solidarity, hierarchy, and collective responsibility in comparison with individualistic orientations. Special attention is given to the study of the ideological foundations, social preferences, attitudes toward civic participation, and the nature of group identity among Russian citizens. The aim of the study is to determine which model of subsidiarity—communitarian or liberal—more accurately reflects the specific features of Russian political culture and the value orientations of contemporary Russians. The empirical basis of the research consists of data from two nationwide representative surveys conducted in 2023–2024 (N=1600) among four generational cohorts (ages 18–24, 25–39, 40–59, and 60+) across eight regions of Russia. The methodological framework is based on John Turner’s self-categorization theory, Shalom Schwartz’s theory of basic values, and the moral foundations theory developed by Jonathan Haidt and Jesse Graham. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the first systematic empirical testing of the communitarian concept of subsidiarity using large-scale sociological data from Russian society. For the first time, a comparative analysis is conducted to assess the compatibility of the Russian value system with various interpretations of the principle of subsidiarity. The main conclusion of the study is the identification of a fundamental contradiction between the declarative support for communitarian values (90.7% support the principles of equality and mutual assistance, and 74.9% consider it necessary to follow traditions) and the practical rejection of civic engagement (only 1.5% consider public activity meaningful). The study confirms the hypothesis that Russian political culture is more compatible with the communitarian model of subsidiarity than with the liberal one, but it also reveals significant obstacles to its institutionalization in the form of a crisis of intermediary institutions of civil society and the phenomenon of “passive subsidiarity.”

In recent years, there has been a rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, which has a noticeable impact on the field of education and science. On one hand, artificial intelligence facilitates accelerated data processing, increases the accuracy of analysis, and improves the quality of scientific work. On the other hand, the use of generative models (for example, algorithms capable of creating coherent texts) gives rise to new forms of academic fraud. The legal aspects of applying artificial intelligence in educational and scientific activities remain underdeveloped. The lack of clear regulations governing the use of artificial intelligence in the preparation of educational and scientific works creates legal uncertainty. The aim of this article is to explore the legal and ethical aspects of applying artificial intelligence in the preparation of educational and scientific works, as well as to assess the response of higher education institutions to emerging challenges. The methodological basis of the work consisted of scientific approaches to studying academic integrity and plagiarism, as well as concepts of digital transformation in education; analysis of regulatory and governing documents; and empirical research (survey methodology). The total number of participants in the study was 210 people (160 students and 50 teachers) from four Russian universities. The article examines the features of "AI plagiarism" in comparison with classical plagiarism, analyzes legal responsibility for the misuse of artificial intelligence, and provides examples of regulatory approaches from Russian and foreign universities. Particular attention is paid to moral dilemmas related to the line between the permissible "assistive" role of artificial intelligence and the complete substitution of the author's intellectual contribution. As illustrative materials, the results of a student audience survey are presented, as well as comparative data on the prevalence of AI fraud. The conclusions drawn may be useful in shaping institutional policies aimed at preserving academic integrity and quality of education in the context of digitalization. Higher education institutions must actively adapt to new realities by developing educational programs and rules that will help students and teachers use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively. Further research in the field of legal regulation and ethics of AI use in education and science appears to be extremely important for ensuring sustainable development in these areas.

The process of universal digitalization, covering key aspects of communications, inevitably leads to significant changes in almost all areas of public life. The State cannot stay away from this global process. The subject of the study is the political and legal aspects of the digitalization of the state. The prospects for the development of government and law in the context of large-scale digitalization continue to be the subject of active discussions among lawyers both in Russia and internationally. Digital technologies are increasingly integrated into public administration systems, covering an increasingly wide range of tasks and levels of government. The work analyzes how these aspects can be measured at the present time. Special attention is paid to comparing the approaches of different countries. The paper uses the comparative legal method and the method of political analysis, which allows us to identify the features of the models of Western Europe and Russia. The practice of measuring the maturity index of government technologies, which helps to assess the degree of digitalization in different countries, is described. It has been established that the electronic system of interaction between citizens and government agencies implements many functions that significantly simplify and optimize the processes of obtaining services. The development of electronic state and municipal services has not only increased the convenience of interaction with government agencies, but also accelerated the overall digital transformation of public administration. The concept of digital human rights remains the subject of intense debate. The work confirms that the formation of legislation in the field of digital technologies requires in-depth regulatory development, which should be implemented by legislative and executive bodies. The formation of legislation in the field of digital technologies requires in-depth regulatory development, which should be implemented by legislative and executive bodies. The legislative framework is still in a phase of intensive development, and many legal aspects need to be clarified and adapted to the conditions of digital regulation.

Japan and Taiwan are both located in East Asia and have similar workplace cultures.Taiwan was once colonized by Japan and was inevitably influenced by Japanese culture. Over the years, as one of the four Asian tigers, Taiwan has many well-known companies and a unique workplace culture. For example, Sony and Panasonic in Japan, TSMC and Foxconn in Taiwan, these companies are world leaders in their research fields.This paper explores the differences in workplace culture between Japan and Taiwan, and analyzes them from multiple dimensions, such as trade unions, workplace hierarchy, employment methods, overtime culture, and attitudes towards work and life. It systematically compares the characteristics of workplace culture in Japan and Taiwan and explains the reasons. For example, Japan's corporate culture is influenced by the Bushido spirit and requires loyalty, while Taiwan's corporate culture is influenced by a variety of factors, including mainland China, the Japanese colonial period, and Europe and the United States.At the same time, it evaluates the characteristics of workplace culture in Japan and Taiwan, explains the advantages and disadvantages of each workplace culture, for example, although Japan's workplace culture ensures employee loyalty to the company, the system is too rigid, which is not conducive to the flexible development of modern enterprises and dampens the enthusiasm of young people. Although Taiwanese companies are more flexible in employment, the job-hopping rate is very high, resulting in poor technical accumulation and finally summarizes the future development trend of workplace culture in the two places, explores the future optimization direction, and provides reference for cross-cultural exchanges between enterprises in the two places.

The article examines the transformation of public control mechanisms in the digital age, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for interaction between society and the government brought about by digitization. The purpose of the study is to analyze the current state of digital public control in Russia, identify institutional and socio-technical barriers, and propose a model of multi-level asymmetric participation to enhance the effectiveness of control. The hypothesis regarding the influence of institutional formalism, digital inequality, and accountability deficits, which hinder genuine citizen engagement in digital platforms, is confirmed by empirical data. The prospects for the development of digital tools and the need to adapt institutional practices to new conditions are also discussed, as these may contribute to strengthening democracy and increasing trust between society and the government. The methodology includes systemic, formal-legal, comparative, content, sociological, and forecasting analyses using data from official portals, the "Active Citizen" platform, independent analytical centers (VTsIOM, ONF), and OECD studies. The results show low levels of digital participation, fragmentation of platforms, and issues of digital illiteracy and legal nihilism in the regions. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of a detailed algorithm for the phased implementation of a multi-level model of digital public control, covering a wide range of subjects—from ordinary citizens to government authorities—with clear distribution of responsibilities and the creation of effective communication channels to ensure interaction among all participants in the process. The theoretical novelty of the research is manifested in the comprehensive integration of technological and socio-political factors into a cohesive model of digital public control adapted to Russian conditions, which allows for a deeper understanding of the contemporary challenges and opportunities of digitization. Key results include the identification of institutional gaps and barriers, confirmation of digital inequality, formulation of a multi-level model of asymmetric participation, and recommendations for modernizing institutions and developing digital literacy, contributing significantly to the theoretical development and practical application of digital public control mechanisms.

The economic confrontation that began in 2018 represents a new stage in Sino-American trade relations. We focus on the conflict between China and the USA, as they are the largest players in the global agricultural market while also being each other's most important trade partners. Given their economic power, their trade policies can significantly impact global commodity markets. The aim of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the origins of disagreements and the current state of foreign trade interactions between the USA and China in the agricultural sector. The object of research is the totality of Sino-American relations related to the trade of agricultural products in the context of growing confrontation between the countries at the beginning of the 21st century. The subject of research is the features of trade and economic interaction between the USA and China in the agricultural sector against the backdrop of the increasing financial and economic power of China. The authors implemented a systematic approach to the study of trade and economic relations between the USA and China, identifying patterns and trends in the development of bilateral relations. The methodological basis of the study includes structural-functional analysis, comparative-historical analysis, and institutional analysis. To reveal the essence of each party's positions in the trade war, a content analysis of the speeches of both leaders was conducted. Despite opposing interests and developmental trajectories, China and the USA maintain longstanding agricultural relations that have steadily strengthened in recent years. There is a complementarity in trade between them: the USA exports goods that require significant land and capital investment, while China exports goods that require high labor input. From a purely commercial standpoint, these exchanges are beneficial for both countries: they allow the USA to find markets for its products and provide China with the resources necessary to feed its population. The existing interdependence between the two countries in the trade of agricultural products makes the use of agriculture for geoeconomic purposes within the framework of the trade war both simple and dangerous. The authors have systematized the stages of the trade war between the USA and China. It is argued that the increased trade balance deficit of the USA was one of the factors contributing to the confrontation between the countries. The strategies of both countries within the framework of the trade war are elucidated.

The study examines the theoretical and practical aspects of inter-municipal cooperation in Russia, assesses its role in achieving national sustainable development goals, and proposes ways to overcome existing obstacles. The object of the study is the interaction of municipal formations within a unified system of public authority, while the subject is the phenomenon of inter-municipal cooperation and its impact on the development of the local self-government system. The focus is on various forms of inter-municipal cooperation, such as the conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements, the creation of associations of municipal entities, the formation of agglomerations, as well as the implementation of joint infrastructure projects and programs. Thus, the subject of the study comprehensively addresses issues of theoretical understanding of inter-municipal cooperation, its legal regulation, political components, and practical ways of its improvement, ensuring a deep and thorough assessment of the studied phenomena and processes. The methodological basis of the research is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, including the study of regulatory documents, monitoring the practices of interaction between municipal entities, analysis of empirical data obtained through expert surveys, and synthesis of research results by domestic experts. The study conducted a comprehensive comparison of theoretical developments and practical realities of inter-municipal cooperation in Russia, identifying factors that negatively influence its development. Practical recommendations were developed to improve state municipal policy. The research into inter-municipal cooperation in Russia revealed its high relevance as a crucial resource for overcoming territorial disparities and enhancing management efficiency at the local level. At the same time, significant barriers were identified that hinder full-fledged inter-municipal cooperation development, including the insufficiency of the regulatory framework, the weakness of institutional coordination mechanisms, limited financial resources, and a shortage of trained management personnel. The findings of the study demonstrate the need for the development and implementation of a comprehensive package of measures, including detailing the procedure for concluding agreements and the status of inter-municipal cooperation associations, organizing methodological support and training for personnel, enhancing the financial sustainability of cooperation, as well as activating the activities of associations of municipal entities and supporting pilot inter-municipal programs in regions. Inter-municipal cooperation emerges as a necessary condition for improving the efficiency of territorial management, reducing regional disparities, and ensuring sustainable development in the Russian Federation.