The article is devoted to the analysis of Russian and foreign expert views on BRICS expansion. The expert analytics analyzed in the article have been published no earlier than 2020. The study outlines the framework for continuing discussion about the benefits of new participating countries joining one of the most promising international associations. The article also outlines the emerging challenges accompanying the process of BRICS expansion and evaluates ways to overcome them.

The article analyzes the current populist dynamics in Argentina. The first part is devoted to the key interpretations and features of populism as a political phenomenon. Due to the lack of consensus in the conceptualization of the phenomenon and the wide variety of interpretations, its main features are singled out. Special attention is paid to the economic, political and ideological causes and consequences of the current crisis of Peronism, which has been the dominant political force in Argentinean politics for many decades. It is noted that the current crisis in ideology was the result of specific political trends emerged in the country on the eve of the presidential elections in the fall of 2023. In addition, the author deals with the domestic and foreign policy course of the incumbent government and the intermediate results of the policies pursued. At the end of the article, the populist nature of the current course is also explained.

The political, philosophical and conceptual basis of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” a conventionally ancient Russian poem about the unsuccessful campaign of the Novgorod-Seversk prince Igor Svyatoslavich (1155-1201) against the Polovtsians in 1185, remains debatable. It directly depends on the author’s intention in the context of the intended dating of the era. From a scientific point of view, it is more correct to talk not about the political and philosophical thought of “The Tale...”, but rather about the complex of discussions around this text. Therefore, it is possible to understand the political motives of “The Tale...” only in the context of the controversy surrounding its dating, which has been going on for more than two centuries. The article presents discussions about the authenticity of the text, its relationship with other ancient Russian sources, the historiography of disputes about the text, and conclusions regarding its political philosophy.

Mikhail Afrikanovich Terentyev was a Russian lieutenant general, military orientalist and historian, linguist, lawyer, who 150 years before the current events described geopolitics in Central Asia, the relations between Russia, England, Persia, and Muslim states, which still remain as controversial and complex as they were in the XIX century. He was surprisingly accurate in his assessment of the importance of public opinion in England and its press, so that Russia should have been careful when its power was exaggerated. The same image of Russia as an extremely strong and immoderate in appetite rival is persistently imposed by the British press on its society today, as well as on Europeans and Americans. He very accurately foreshadowed Russophobia and showed how members of the British parliament set tasks for the press and how the “sixth great power” worked. In his writings on Central Asia, M.A. Terentyev took into account economics, politics, military, individual qualities of leaders, public opinion, culture, language and national peculiarities. His writings shed light on the interdependencies and politics of states and there is no doubt that researchers will continue to refer to his works in the future. This article offers the reader useful remarks by M.A. Terentyev from his major works: “Russia and England in the Struggle for Markets” and “Russia and England in Central Asia”, which were highly appreciated in Russia, England and Europe. They shed light on the world economy and politics of the XIX century: the importance of cotton at the time to the world market, the importance of Central Asia to England, and they even link the assassination of Paul I to Russia’s attempt to control the route to India.

The article examines the concept of “functional skills” in the context of ideas and legal regulation in the field of education in the Russian Federation. It also discusses the concept of mentoring and pays special attention to its functions and potential benefits. The specifics of requests from business, the labor market and citizens in the field of legal services are considered. The authors also deal with the possibilities of the mentoring institute for training specialists related to individual professional activities using the example of law students. In addition, the paper highlights the systemic and regular difficulties of law students in the transition from theoretical training to practical activity, the tools and technologies that allow turning mistakes into valuable experience, including the development of emotional intelligence, communication skills and legal techniques. The article discusses one of the possible successful options for building horizontal “mentor-mentee” interaction. The Legal Clinic of the Russian State University for the Humanities has developed an experimental technology for the interaction of professional lawyers, legal mentors and student interns and received the first results of an analysis of the work done. The described model is given a qualitative characteristic.

Book Review: Boyko A.A. Global Energy: History and Politics. Moscow: MAKS Press, 2023. 364 p. ISBN-978-5-317-07092-2 (In Russian)