Abstract: This article offers a comprehensive analysis of the 21st-century military intervention in Iraq, with a specific focus on the supposed «call for democracy», a premise that has been a subject of intense debate and skepticism. By examining the «Fake Call for Democracy» hypothesis, the author investigates whether the pursuit of democratic governance was the genuine goal of the invasion or a facade for other strategic interests. The analysis encompasses the historical context preceding the invasion, the chronology of key events during the conflict, and the immediate and enduring consequences of the attack on Iraq's political, social, and economic structures. It provides a nuanced understanding of the motivations behind international interventions, particularly when couched in the rhetoric of democracy promotion or human rights. The military intervention in Iraq stands as one of the most significant and contentious episodes of the early 21st century. From a lens of historical reflection, the «call for democracy» that justified the invasion is shrouded in controversy, debate, and criticism. The aftermath of the invasion has resulted in a precarious, deeply flawed democracy, defined by sectarian violence, economic instability, and political corruption, rather than the envisioned stable and prosperous democratic nation.

Keywords: military intervention, political corruption, economic instability, post-invasion consequences, geopolitical strategies, human rights, democracy promotion, international interventions, fake democracy, intervention in Iraq

Abstract: The article is devoted to the main threats and advantages brought by digitalization in the Middle East nowadays. The research problem of the article is "which influence of digitalization – positive or destructive – prevails in the Middle East and what prospects await this region in the digital sphere. The interests of key regional players in the cybersphere (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Iran, etc., as well as anti-systemic non-state actors), as well as regional and national initiatives in this industry, including "Peninsula Shield", "Vision 2030" and others, are analyzed. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a non-classical approach to security problems in the Middle East, namely through the prism of the digital sphere, taking into account its complexity and the multiplicity of its actors. The theoretical basis of the research is based on a neoliberal approach to world politics, in particular, on the concept of complex interdependence, since the authors rely on the postulate that the world policy sphere is inextricably linked with others, and also consists of a multitude of heterogeneous actors and connections between them. From the point of view of studying regional integration in the Middle East, the dominant approach is neofunctionalism, developed by E. Haas, in particular, the theory of "spillover". The research methods used are description, study of official documents and statistical data, situational analysis, comparative analysis, which made it possible to assess the key threats and prospects for regional security and their correlation. The authors conclude that the key threat to the region is the disunity of the main actors' interests and the associated possibility of political contradictions' aggravation. Nevertheless, digitalization provides the Middle East with such advantages as deepening regional integration and inclusion in international cooperation, the growth of soft power and the potential for economic diversification.

Keywords: Peninsula Shield, regional integration, antisystem actors, cybersecurity, Middle East, Digitalization, Gulf Cooperation Council, soft power, Iran, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The era of digital revolution and introduction of artificial intelligence in political, economic, military and social spheres have created conditions for emergence of a new form of informational and communicative interaction in society, the so called metaverse. The theory of parallel virtual worlds, described by science fiction writers in the 20th century, has been put into practice by major technological giants in the 21st century. From 2019 to 2022, global technology corporations have begun to develop industry-specific metaverses aimed at further digitalising economic, political, military and social spheres of life. Military rivalries and the rapid arms race, which have spawned new global conflicts, have contributed to emergence of the military metaverses and new types of weapons rooting from the use of artificial intelligence and advanced VR-technologies. This article presents an analysis of military metaverses, new types of weapons made with the use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Keywords: network society, intelligence, digitalization, artificial intelligence, cognitive warfare, metaverse, India, US, virtualization, China

Abstract: The present work is devoted to the topical topic of the role of technoparks in the modern globalization processes of the world and national economy. This is far from an accidental fact, since the specific structure of the modern world order poses special challenges to the societies of the post-Soviet space. The prospects for their development and equal participation in modernization processes depend on their ability to meet new requirements. In this regard, its driving mechanisms, affecting almost all states and societies, require deep rethinking and careful analysis. The paper pays special attention to the phenomenon of "silicon valleys", the role of science in the USA and the countries of Southeast Asia, and makes a comparative analysis of their specific features. Based on the data obtained, the degree of lag of post-Soviet societies will be determined, measures to overcome it are proposed, first of all, by reforming the educational system and science, which automatically put the human factor and intellectual capital in the first place. The work uses an interdisciplinary approach of socio-humanitarian disciplines, in particular, socio–cultural anthropology, semantics, structural, comparative analysis, on the basis of which the problems of post–Soviet societies are identified, modern modernization and globalization processes are analyzed. The work is aimed at a wide range of readers interested in the phenomenon of "silicon valleys", as well as scientists in the fields of politics, law, sociology, economics, cultural anthropology.

Keywords: scientific and technological progress, political culture, post-Soviet space, intellectual capital, the human factor, technopark, modernization, globalization, the transnational world, silicon valley

Abstract: In this study, an attempt is made to form a holistic view of the image of Russia in Europe on the example of the image of the country in the UK, France and Germany, which was formed in the period from 2000 to 2014, i.e. before the annexation of Crimea to Russia, since this event had negative consequences for the image of Russia in European countries and after it the image significantly deteriorated. The choice of the object and subject of research is dictated by the purpose of this work. The object is the image of the state as one of the most significant elements of "soft power", and the subject is the image of Russia in Europe from 2000 to 2014. The purpose of this study is to examine the image of Russia during this period in European countries (using the example of the image of Russia in the UK, France and Germany). The research methodology is based on the principles of scientific objectivity and consistency: materials are selected and considered in the context of the situation, and facts and events are analyzed comprehensively. An important role in the research was assigned to general scientific research methods – content analysis and comparative analysis. The interdisciplinary approach makes it possible to use the achievements of such sciences as political science, image studies, sociology, psychology and marketing in the work. The territorial boundaries of the study cover countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France. The scientific novelty of the work consists in a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing the perception of the image of the Russian Federation in Europe during this period. It can be stated that in the 2000s, in the context of the problem of perception of the image of Russia in the UK, France and Germany, ethnocentrism and altruistic democracy were significant concepts. It is also important to note that in the 2000s, not only negative, but also some positive characteristics of Russia's image were presented in European countries.

Keywords: France, Germany, Great Britain, EU, Europe, Russia, PR, perception, image, promotion