The author examines the legacy of two great Christian thinkers, the American Reinhold Niebuhr and the Italian Giorgio La Pira, both very influential during the Cold War. Niebuhr was a Protestant theologian and political adviser to the American establishment. The Mayor of Florence, La Pira, was a prominent Italian statesman and an eminent Catholic thinker. The author analyzes their views on international relations, in particularly on the western policy towards the Soviet Union, the use of nuclear weapons, the war in Vietnam and communism. The legacy of two thinkers is highly topical in front of the ethical dimension of choices needed in international politics today.

The edge of 1980s-1990s represent an example of peaceful transformation on international order into new predominantly cooperative system. This result was achieved to large extent due to the positive political programme proposed by the Soviet leadership. In the beginning of 1990s the United States took initiative in defining international agenda. However, they couldn’t resist the temptation to strengthen their international standing unilaterally in the absence of major adversary. Therefore, it is not surprising that the new order, constructed by the U.S., appeared to be nondurable.

Central Asia plays an essential role for China’s foreign policy. Beijing has recently increased its presence in the region and now is treated as one of the main powers. This article analyzes the key studies on China’s Central Asia strategy. It focuses on the most complicated problems that experts face researching the issue. Finally an author came to the conclusion that complex approach towards China’s policy in Central Asia is not worked out yet. Most of the scholars admit that China’s share in regional politics is increasing, but they are not sure about its final goal.

Although cooperation between NATO and Central Asian countries dates back to the 1990s, significant presence of the Alliance in the region is visible throughout the last decade only. The cooperation advanced due to the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan. However, its planned conclusion in 2012 will not lead to the withdrawal of the Alliance from Central Asia. Throughout the last decade NATO developed a network of diversified partnerships with countries of the region. In this process Kazakhstan emerged as its most promising and active partner.

The article analyzes the evolution of relation inside the strategic triangle USSR/Russia — China — USA, which was and is the fundamental part of world order. The author reviews various configurations of cooperation and competition and bilateral relations through the lens of the interests of the parties and the US role in the triangle. The changes that took place in the component parts of the triangle fostered changes in politics and thus altered the roles and weight of the parties and of the relations between them and as a result a stalemate occurred in the triangle. The author concludes that the longer the triangular uncertainly is maintained, the more challenges will be faced by the leaders of the triangle parties.

Taiwan media reflects the diversity and chaos of Ideology after the political reform from the end of 1980’s when the leader of Taiwan Chiang Ching-kuo announced the lifting of martial law on July 15, 1987. The democracy promoted the exchanging situation between Taiwan and Mainland China. The importance of Taiwan’s geopolitical position is disappearing by time. To integrate into the broadened AsianPacific region in the era of China’s uprising and Taiwan’s closed economic cooperation with Mainland China under its military threat is a new trend for Taiwan’s foreign policy. With the returning back of Putin to the presidency of Russia and his Asian cooperation strategy, Taiwan could understand the role of Russia appropriately to think about how to participate in this regional cooperation and consolidate the national security in the cross-strait region. The attitude of Russia toward the SCO should be paid attention to from the side of Taiwan authority. The author found that in the bigger geopolitical pattern in Asian-Pacific region that Russia plays more and more stable and positive role in the regional security under the competition with USA. The competition between USA and Russia is the new world geopolitical pattern for both Taiwan and Mainland China. This paper is divided into two parts from the aspect of Taiwan political and geopolitical changes to examine the problems of the cross-strait relations and SinoRussian relations under the theme of SCO in East Asia. The author assumes that Russia’s Asian Strategy will strengthen Russia’s influence on the cross-strait relations deeply and Russia will play the more and more important role in regional security and economic cooperation in East Asia.

The article analyzes the forms of governing Muslims in Turkey, Russia, India, and China. The author considers historical background and current state of affairs in this sphere, similarities and differences of the four mentioned states in relations with the Muslim minorities.