This article focuses on the analysis of the structure of the metaphorical space of emotions, modeled through a paradigmatic analysis of emotive vocabulary. The primary source of material is the thesaurus “Alphabet of Emotions” (2021). A total of 2,091 lexemes with metaphorical meanings representing 19 fundamental emotive concepts were analyzed. The statistical analysis of the sample yielded data on the proportion of metaphorical meanings within grammatical, functionalsemantic, and denotative-ideographic classes of emotive vocabulary. It was established that the processes of enriching the emotive vocabulary with metaphorical meanings are most active within the functional-semantic classes related to emotional impact and the formation of emotional states. A set of denotative-ideographic groups of emotive vocabulary with high, medium, and low content of metaphorical language was identified. The categorization of emotive metaphors by source domains of metaphorical transfer was carried out using a meta-language of semantic descriptors. Within the structure of the metaphorical space, 193 metaphorical models were identified, grouped into 23 denotative spheres. A model of the metaphorical space of emotions is proposed in a field format. The core of the metaphorical space of emotions is formed by vocabulary related to specific physical activities. The peripheral zone includes vocabulary from the domains of “Living Nature,” “Inanimate Nature,” “Perception,” and “Human as a Living Being.”

This study is situated within the framework of contemporary linguopolitics. It identifies the means of representing consolidation strategies in institutional discourse texts. Utilizing lexicographic analysis, the research reveals words that convey the semantics of unity. Through the application of the Voyant Tools program for automated data processing (corpus analysis), the frequency of these terms is determined, allowing for the ranking of lexemes and highlighting the dominant unit of cooperation. An examination of collocations with this lexeme (contextual analysis) reveals the primary semantic constructs of the concept of COOPERATION that enact consolidation strategies (cognitive-propositional analysis): the subjects of cooperation and their attributive characteristics (ideological stance, localization), as well as the attributive features of joint action (spheres of cooperation). The study uncovers both commonalities and differences in interpreting consolidation strategies as articulated in key documents that reflect the specifics of institutional discourse, where political actors may be either a single state (Russia), an international organization (SCO), or an intergovernmental association (BRICS). It is emphasized that the foundation of contemporary understanding of unity in international political discourse is not ideological proximity, as was the case during the Cold War, but rather the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. Various models of consolidation are identified (multilevel and scalable, vector-based regionally-oriented, alternative globally-oriented), as reflected in different documents.

This study investigates precedent names as nationally marked linguistic units and cultural symbols. It presents data from a free associative experiment conducted in 2022 with two groups: Germans from the Federal Republic of Germany and Russian Germans. The stimuli for the experiment were the precedent names Stalin and Catherine II. Based on the collected data, an associative field was constructed. Utilizing semantic interpretation methodology, the psychologically salient meanings of these proper names were identified. The inclusion of Russian Germans as participants is justified by their unique dual identity, situated at the intersection of German and Russian mentalities. The experiment revealed significant differences in perceptions of Stalin between the ethnic groups studied. In the linguistic consciousness of Germans from the Federal Republic, the name Stalin is primarily associated with geographical location, national affiliation, or a precedent event. In contrast, the psycholinguistic significance of the name Stalin among Russian Germans carries a distinctly negative connotation and is linked to dramatic historical processes. The precedent name Catherine II exhibits a similar connotative significance across both groups but reveals differences in perceptions regarding the ruler's national identity and her role in the country's history.

This article explores one of the emerging genres of virtual discourse — motivational e-cards, which have gained popularity among the older demographic. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis (genre-based, semantic, semiotic, and cognitive-interpretative) is conducted on motivational e-cards in both Russian and Yakut languages. A total of 1,788 Russian and 800 Yakut motivational e-cards were analyzed. The sources were selected through a comprehensive sampling method from the messaging platform WhatsApp and the social network Pinterest from November 2023 to November 2024. The aim of the study is to identify the verbal and visual means of representing the value concepts of Comfort and NUS BARAAN in the texts of motivational e-cards. The research models the conceptual field of Comfort within the everyday consciousness of communication participants. It is demonstrated that the concept of Comfort in the everyday consciousness of Russianspeaking participants is characterized by cognitive attributes such as pleasant feelings and tranquility, primarily within the emotional space, followed by the temporal continuum (time of day, days of the week), and convenience within the home. It is noted that the idea of comfort as a value is particularly emphasized during the winter season. In contrast, the texts of Yakut e-cards do not verbally represent the concept of NUS BARAAH (comfort), leading the authors to hypothesize that either this concept is not represented in Yakut content or that comfort does not hold value for communication participants.

This study investigates the structural-semantic organization of the genre “report” based on German-language military archival documents from the Great Patriotic War (1941-1943). The research is framed within text theory and textology, drawing on the works of both domestic and international linguists, including advancements in German textological science. The analysis encompasses 1,600 report texts from a total corpus of 2,400 documents provided by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Special attention is given to identifying typological features, linguistic tools, and functional characteristics of this genre within the context of professionallyoriented military discourse. Utilizing methods of structural-semantic analysis, comparative approaches, and discourse analysis, it has been established that reports exhibit a strict internal organization that ensures coherence, structural hierarchy, and semantic connectivity. The analysis of linguistic organization reveals that report texts are characterized by a high degree of standardization: predominance of nominative constructions, use of specialized terminology, clichés, and minimal emotional coloring. The identified features will further enhance the efficiency of translating and processing military archival documents.

This study investigates the authorial image presented on the corporate websites of law firms. The authorial image is understood as the representation of the law firm itself, functioning as a generalized persona that shapes the virtual presence of the organization through its corporate website. The research material comprises the corporate websites of several law firms located in the Kemerovo region (Kuzbass). A communicative-pragmatic approach is employed to analyze the discourse, taking into account the pragmatic properties of language units selected according to the specifics of the communicative situation, the participants involved, their social roles, and the electronic medium of information. Language is viewed as a participant in marketing communication and market relations, facilitating the successful delivery of services provided by the organization. It is established that effective marketing communication within the corporate website employs communicative strategies aimed at constructing a positive image of the law firm: strategies for creating an image of a legitimate organization, modeling an authoritative organization, shaping an image of a successful organization, and hyperbolizing the organization’s image. The analysis reveals polycode means of actualizing these strategies, determined by the genre-specific characteristics of the text and the electronic nature of the substrate (the material carrier of the sign).

This study examines the distinctive authorial representation of the national-cultural concept of BLOOD in Mikhail Lermontov’s literary works. The research aims to analyze the semantic content of this concept within the Russian linguistic worldview and trace its transformation in Lermontov’s artistic system. The investigation draws upon encyclopedic sources, lexicographical materials, and Lermontov’s poetic and prose texts. The findings demonstrate that Lermontov’s literary universe incorporates nearly all semantic components of the Russian cultural concept of BLOOD: notions of kinship and shared ancestry, metaphors of death (particularly violent death), the semantics of blood vengeance, and expressions of extreme emotional intensity. The study reveals that Lermontov’s creative contribution expands the conceptual boundaries through: - The portrayal of blood as a complex amalgam of kinship, love, vengeance, and rebellion; - The use of blood symbolism in nature descriptions as metaphorical expressions of suffering, martyrdom, and evil; - The embodiment in blood imagery of supernatural forces invading human existence and manifestations of otherworldliness.

This study investigates the structural properties and thematic specificity of attributive phrases, including adjectives, in scientific abstracts related to the field of engineering and transportation. The objective is to explore the potential for representing pertinent themes through pre-modifying attributive phrases and to identify recurrent thematic components, alongside a list of adjectives that verbalize relevant characteristics. It is concluded that attributive phrases facilitate the verbalization of the following thematic components within the abstract: the high significance of the engineering and transportation field, the global demand for innovations in transportation, the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies, and the widespread use of modeling methodologies, including the creation of both real and virtual models. Frequent adjectives forming phrases with nouns denoting vehicles and transportation technologies have been identified, which represent various contemporary characteristics reflecting their modern properties. The compiled lists of attributive phrases, categorized by themes, can be utilized for training in the creation of abstracts for scientific articles in the engineering and transportation domain, as well as considered in the development of collocation dictionaries and thesauri.

This article addresses the issue of Ivan Bunin's literary language, focusing particularly on the phytonymic tools employed in his poetic texts. The aim of the study is to systematize and describe the phytonymic lexicon found in the poetry of Bunin. The research material comprises lyrical texts (over 900 poems) included in a scholarly edition published in 2014, prepared by T. M. Dvinyatina. The author has compiled a database of examples featuring 237 plant nominations. The analysis employs descriptive, taxonomic, distributive, and statistical methods, as well as componential and contextual analysis techniques. Three principles have been identified that organize the plant names in Bunin's poetry into a coherent system: subordination of units, multi-layered structure, and the combination of polysemy and dichotomy in distinguishing taxa at different levels. It has been established that Bunin's poetry encompasses 22 semantic groups of plant names, varying in the number of designations within each group. The four most substantial groups are identified as follows: “Partitive Plant Names” (22.4% of the total corpus), “Names of Plant Communities” (12.7%), “Names of Non-Fruiting Deciduous Trees” (10.6%), and “Names of Ornamental Herbaceous Plants” (8.5%). Furthermore, it is demonstrated that alongside conventional units, Bunin's plant names also features individual-authorial formations.

This study investigates the deliberate use of visual metaphors on a university website. The research material comprises images featured in thematic sections related to lifelong learning (LLL). Special attention is given to the viewpoint as a marker of deliberateness in visual metaphor and a key element in constructing the connotation of the image. The objective of this research is to unveil the interpretative function of the viewpoint in photographs depicting lifelong learning. The analytical methodology is based on a combination of methods and techniques derived from theories of conceptual, primary, and deliberate metaphors, adapted for the purposes of this study. It is established that the upward-pointing perspective in visual messages about lifelong learning serves as a means to convey qualitative characteristics of the interactions between the central figures in the images. Through examples, it is demonstrated that the target domain of LIFELONG LEARNING is represented using the source domain of INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. It is found that, based on universal knowledge of the value of social connections and emotional support, the authors of the images intentionally activate the metaphorical projection UNIVERSITY — PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE ADULT STUDENT. Furthermore, it is revealed that manipulation of the viewpoint generates the phenomenon of reverse metaphorization and leads to an inversion of conceptual domains (ADULT STUDENTS — UNIVERSITY).

This article examines Donna Tartt's university novel “The Secret History” as a literary hypertext within the contemporary digital subculture of the dark academia. It explores the interplay between Latin code within the literary text and both semantic and aesthetic units of this subculture. The analysis incorporates Latin lexemes and phrases utilized in the novel, alongside examples from ancient Greek culture, which serve as significant subtexts to the Latin code. Additionally, it considers the widely recognized student hymn “Gaudeamus” and various publications by proponents of dark academia in digital media. The theoretical aspects of the topic are also addressed, including the thanatology present in “The Secret History” and the reflection on the motif of death through a Freudian lens. The study demonstrates that the Latin context, the intentional layer of “Gaudeamus,” the novel “The Secret History,” and dark academia exist in hypertextual relationships, with the latter forming a cohesive posttext. The novelty of this research lies in its articulation of the connective links between these media texts, which together create an aesthetic whole unified by the perceptual properties of a small social group. The relevance of this study is underscored by the increasing importance of aesthetic means for understanding the world, characteristic of contemporary media texts.

This paper offers an interpretation of the extraordinary poem “The Palace of S. I. Shchukin” by early 20th-century avant-garde poet Vasily Kamensky, taken from his 1914 collection of “reinforced concrete poems,” “Tango with Cows.” Utilizing the verbal-visual nature of this poem-painting, we examine a unique specimen of Futurist text. The analysis addresses the complex narrative devices that may challenge conventional perception within the poem's pictorial framework. Through an exploration of semantic categories inherent in the text, we provide a step-by-step analysis of the ekphrastic layer within the “reinforced concrete poem” “The Palace of S. I. Shchukin.” It is demonstrated that this poem-painting possesses a rigorous and systematic construction, a topographical sequence of narrative development, and a coherent compositional structure, all mediated by both the semantics of the depicted (the palace and its contents) and the “transversal” techniques characteristic of Kamensky's Futurist poetics. We propose interpretations for extracting various images reminiscent of modernist French painters (such as Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Cézanne, among others) from the text. Furthermore, it is emphasized that Kamensky's poem-painting embodies not only Futurist elements but also a distinctly everyday nature, suggesting that the avant-garde “zaum” culture within which the poet operated did not hinder the creation of a deeply poetic and readily accessible text.

The relevance of this study is underscored by the necessity to examine episodes from M. M. Bakhtin's scholarly biography within new contexts, particularly through the lens of postcolonial theory. This article demonstrates the productivity of integrating traditional historical-biographical paradigms with post-imperial/non-imperial interpretative methods. Utilizing under-researched materials from Bakhtin's time in Kustanai and Saransk during the 1930s, the authors trace the scholar's engagement with the life of national peripheries and identify traces of this experience in his works. It is noted that Bakhtin's return to Saransk in 1945 aligns with a trajectory from the “metropolis of culture” to the “province of experience.” As evidenced by cited archival documents, contemporaneous accounts, and local periodicals, Bakhtin emerges as a central figure not only in the pedagogical but also in the literary and cultural life of Mordovia. His name is associated with various activities — ranging from joint meetings with his department and representatives of the Writers' Union of the Mordovian ASSR to numerous seminars featuring talks with young writers, Mordovian authors, dramatic theater actors, and others. Special attention is given to previously unknown facts regarding Bakhtin's creative collaboration with playwright G. Ya. Merkushkin during the latter's work on the play “The Road of Life.”

This article explores the phenomenon of Evenki folkloric language, focusing on the functioning and structural characteristics of Evenki reduplicates and paired words. The study utilizes epic narratives from published sources as primary material. A typology of Evenki reduplicates and paired words is proposed, adhering to established classifications of similar linguistic units. The material is organized according to parts ofspeech, providing insights into the frequency and distribution of these phenomena. It is demonstrated that all parts of speech, except numerals, undergo reduplication, while paired words are formed through the compounding of verbs, adverbs, numerals, and pronouns. The author examines the unique features of reduplicates and paired words, identifying stable linguistic units. The findings suggest that products of reduplication and word compounding in the Evenki language primarily serve as expressive means. Reduplicates enhance the meanings conveyed, indicate intensity, and convey notions of repetition, duration, and continuity of action. Paired words encapsulate semantics of collectivity and generalization, expressing more complex ideas. The relevance of this study is underscored by the lack of research on reduplication and word compounding phenomena in the Evenki language.

This study examines the publication history of Stefan Zweig's short story “The Moonlight Alley” in Maxim Gorky's Berlin journal “Beseda” (No. 3, 1923) within a comparative framework. It is noted that Gorky recognized the “thematic similarities” between Zweig's narrative and his own work “A Tale of Unrequited Love,” insisting on featuring both pieces in the same issue of “Beseda.” The aim of this research is to analyze this editorial and publishing episode, highlighting its significance in the context of the artistic methods and poetics shared by both writers. The study draws on the texts of Gorky and Zweig, as well as their correspondence. Additionally, Gorky's earlier text “Makar Chudra” is included for comparison. By considering Gorky's creative worldview, the author reveals new dimensions of similarity in the poetics of Gorky and Zweig. It is argued that Gorky's decision to publish Zweig's story in his journal was closely related to the distinctive portrayals of love by both authors, their shared psychological traits, common artistic poetics, and aligned philosophical perspectives.

This study examines the novella writing of A. Amphiteatrov within the context of the “vampiric” prose tradition. The novelty of this research lies in its exploration of the specific representation of the concept of HORROR in the author’s stories for the first time. It is established that in Amphiteatrov's novellas, terror arises from a total sense of hopelessness and the characters' inability to comprehend their circumstances. Notably, in the story “He,” the means of representing the concept of HORROR include a gothic chronotope and a vampire, which disrupts the characters' ordinary lives and places the protagonist in a realm of uncontrollable terror intertwined with passion and an intense desire for closeness with the object of attraction. It is demonstrated that in “The Cimmerian Illness” and “The Story of One Madness,” the embodiment of the examined concept occurs through the figure of the vampire, which serves as an allusion to a character in the poem “The Corinthian Bride.” The authors conclude that the concept of HORROR in Amphiteatrov’s analyzed novellas contributes to the formation of a discourse on the abnormal and psychopathic in Russian Silver Age literature: characters confronted with infernal forces experience pathological horror — stemming from their inability to delineate the boundaries between the real and the unreal, the rational and the irrational, as well as from their awareness of disorientation in the “real” world and ultimately, the loss of self.

This article explores the symbolic significance oflexemes and phraseological units documented in the discourse of dialect speakers within the ritual traditions of the Bryansk-HomelChernigov borderland. The study examines the vocabulary and phraseology associated with calendar celebrations, life cycle rituals, folk beliefs, traditional medicine, and magic. The research material consists of conversations with bearers of traditional culture from the Novozybkov urban district in Bryansk Oblast. The methodologies employed include discursive analysis, componential analysis, semantic and contextual analysis, and descriptive methods. It is established that the semantics of lexical-phraseological units pertaining to calendar festivities is characterized by a wide range of symbolic meanings, including prohibitions on sewing, abundance, ritual purification, initiation, and more. Lexemes and phraseological expressions related to life cycle rituals also encompass a broad spectrum of symbolic interpretations, such as initiation, prosperity, refusal during courtship, separation, gifting, and others. The lexical-phraseological layer associated with folk beliefs captures the symbolism of cyclical movement, offerings to the deceased, and the transformation of souls into zoomorphic images, among other themes. In narratives concerning folk medicine and magic, lexical-phraseological units convey symbolic meanings related to enmity, destruction, healing energy, and more. The examined rituals perform generative and apotropaic functions while also possessing harmful characteristics.

This study is dedicated to the analysis of the formation and understanding of the dynamic development of the image of the English poet John Milton in Russian lyrical and lyric-epic poetry. The material for this investigation consists of lyrical and lyric-epic works by Russian writers from the 18th and 19th centuries that reference Milton. Employing hermeneutic, historical-cultural, and comparative methods, the article identifies three distinct trajectories in the interpretation of Milton's image within Russian poetry during this period. The first trajectory, situated within the framework of Classicism, involves the incorporation of Milton's name into the canon of classical literature and the use of his image as an argument for shaping a unique, distinctive identity in Russian poetry. The second trajectory (within the realms of Sentimentalism and Romanticism) leads to the creation of the image of a solitary, tragically misunderstood genius — a blind seer; moreover, authors of the Sentimentalist era appreciate the contrasts present in Milton's stylistic poetics, while poets of the Romantic tradition perceive him as a quintessential figure of their age. The third trajectory (beginning in the early 19th century, primarily within Romanticism and Realism) is characterized by an ironic, diminutive, and distancing interpretation of Milton's poetics.

This article examines the Chinese leadership's policy towards religion in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) during the tenure of Xi Jinping, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The relevance of this study is underscored by the significance of the religious sphere for the development of the XUAR and the insufficient level of scholarly attention given to religious policy in recent years. The research material comprises legal documents from the PRC, speeches by officials, and news publications from Chinese media. The aim of this work is to validate the hypothesis regarding the process of Sinicization of religions in China. The analysis of regulatory acts reveals that religious activities in the XUAR are subject to detailed regulation by state authorities. The article demonstrates that government intervention in religious life is driven by a proactive approach to combat religious extremism. The author argues that the course towards the Sinicization of religions is conducted under Xi Jinping's close guidance and is aimed at strengthening national unity. The conclusion drawn is that the Chinese leadership's policy on religion seeks to reinforce the values of socialism with Chinese characteristics and foster patriotic sentiments among the clergy and believers.

This study contributes to the analysis of the ecclesiastical-monastic system during the Synodal period of the Russian Orthodox Church, prior to the sweeping changes brought about by the 1917 Revolution and the Civil War. It characterizes all women’s monasteries that emerged and operated in the North Caucasus during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The first female monastic community in the region was established in Mozdok in 1797, though it was short-lived. It was not until the 1840s to 1860s that women’s monasteries began to supplement the existing male monastic establishments in the North Caucasus. The study notes that subsequent legal reforms enabled the transformation of convents into monasteries. It has been determined that most women’s monasteries in the North Caucasus originated from female communities, with only a small fraction being founded as monasteries by regional authorities. The research illustrates the evolving status of women’s monasteries within society, linked to the development of female Orthodox asceticism. Through an analysis of this theme, it highlights the missionary and educational focus of provincial women’s monasteries. It has been revealed that all monasteries in the region operated on principles of communal living, sustained themselves through their own earnings and donations, had opportunities for constructing church complexes, and organized educational activities.

This article examines the propaganda activities of urban and rural public libraries in the Novosibirsk region within the context of state memory policy during the Soviet era, specifically from the 1960s to the early 1980s. It identifies the political-ideological, socio-cultural, and material conditions and factors that influenced these activities. The study delineates the forms and methods employed by library staff, highlighting key historical symbols utilized in their work and elucidating their meanings. Grounded in the field of Memory Studies, this research relies on administrative documents that reflect the operations of public mass libraries in the Novosibirsk region. The findings indicate that during the studied period, these libraries centrally, actively, and extensively disseminated the Soviet commemorative metanarrative through a variety of propaganda forms and methods. However, by the 1970s, a previously high level of reader interest in recurring library commemorations diminished, reflecting a broader ideological crisis. The article positively assesses the libraries’ efforts in developing local historical studies and fostering readers’ interest in local history, as well as facilitating public discussions that contributed to a more nuanced collective memory among regional residents and a degree of democratization in their perspectives.

This article examines the development of the resource base of state (Soviet) agriculture (state farms) in the Sverdlovsk region during the years 1945 to 1953. The relevance of this study is underscored by the significant interest among social science scholars in the historical period under investigation. The primary sources include consolidated annual reports from state farms and other materials sourced from two federal and two regional archives, which are being introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. A comprehensive analysis of the restoration process of the resource base of Soviet agriculture is conducted. It is noted that during the Great Patriotic War, there was a significant contraction of the state farm system in the country. The article asserts that the highest rates of restoration were observed in the years 1949 to 1950. The authors conclude that, despite improvements in material and technical resources and the resolution of most staffing issues, the state farm system in the Middle Urals was not restored to its previous form. It is highlighted that even in the early 1950s, production and delivery levels of key agricultural products to the state had not returned to pre-war levels of 1940, and the state sector in agriculture within the Sverdlovsk region continued to play a relatively minor role.

This study offers a fresh perspective on the circumstances surrounding an anonymous letter delivered to Peter I in November 1724, which contained allegations of misconduct by members of the Supreme Court and Cabinet Secretary A. V. Makarov. The analysis explores Makarov's role in the state-building efforts of the Petrine era, emphasizing his significant mediating function in the formulation and adoption of political decisions. It is noted that for certain administrative experiments characteristic of the reign of Russia's first emperor, the Cabinet Secretary acted as a sort of alter ego for the sovereign, facilitating communication with various administrative institutions and conveying the monarch's will to them. In this context, the article examines the charges presented in the letter and investigates the circumstances surrounding the cases mentioned therein. The roles of individuals who were justly or unjustly accused of misconduct are highlighted. The conclusion drawn is that the document reflects a set of stereotypical views typical of mid-level clerks, suggesting that the claims and accusations against Makarov lack substantive grounding.

This article analyzes the diplomatic struggle during the early stages of the Italo-Ethiopian conflict in early 1935. It is noted that the Ethiopian government at this time sought to elevate the resolution of the conflict to an international level within the League of Nations; however, Britain and France effectively supported Italy in its desire to keep discussions at the level of bilateral negotiations. The outcome of these negotiations was the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement on March 4, 1935, which aimed to establish a neutral zone in the disputed Ogaden region, ultimately never coming into force. It is demonstrated that Italy primarily aimed to buy time to assemble a military force in East Africa sufficient to initiate war against Ethiopia, with negotiations serving this purpose from the Italian perspective. The article argues that Italy actively opposed the internationalization of the conflict and successfully delayed Ethiopia's appeal to the League of Nations by two months. It reveals that during this period, Italy consistently built up its military presence in Eritrea and Somalia, anticipating a forthcoming war against Ethiopia. It is shown that at this stage, Italy achieved its objective by creating conditions conducive to planning an invasion of Ethiopia.

This study examines the dynamics of marriage and divorce rates in the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) from 1945 to 1968, with a particular focus on the impact of the Decree of July 8, 1944, on family and marital relations in the republic. The relevance of this research is underscored by the ongoing crisis facing Russian families in contemporary society. Primary sources include unpublished statistical data on marriages and divorces during the post-war years. Analysis of the total marriage rate among the rural population indicates that men, on average, entered into marriage 2 times, while women did so 1 to 1.5 times. It is shown that the proportion of children born without a father recorded on their birth certificates was lower in postwar Bashkiria compared to the national average and certain regions. The authors suggest that this trend may be attributed to societal condemnation of extramarital relationships, which was also characteristic of the Bashkir and Tatar populations in the republic. The connection between state social policy and the divorce rates is also explored. An examination of the sources leads to the conclusion that a portion of marriages and divorces during this period remained unregistered with the civil registry offices.

While ethnic quotas remain a cornerstone of power distribution in Kabardino-Balkaria (KBR), their historical evolution and impact on political stability — particularly in the post-Soviet period — remain understudied. This article traces the transformation of ethnic quota systems in KBR from the 1950s through the 2020s, analyzing their role in balancing interests among Kabardin, Balkar, and Russian communities. Drawing on government meeting protocols, electoral commission records, ethnic composition statistics, elite interviews, political memoirs, and parliamentary publications, the study employs mixed-methods analysis. Qualitative and quantitative examination of top officials' ethnic backgrounds reveals: Cases of “rotating” ethnic quotas, informal rules governing long-term ethnic monopolies on specific positions or instances of proportional distribution across groups. The findings demonstrate that ethnic quotas persist as a stabilization mechanism despite tensions with formal legal-state principles. Future research should examine municipal-level implementation and the influence of socioeconomic factors on decision-making processes.

This study investigates Japan's transport and economic policy in Manchuria during the years 1905 to 1911. Utilizing materials from the Russian State Historical Archive, it is revealed that the primary instrument for advancing Tokyo's interests in the region was the pro-government joint-stock company, the South Manchuria Railway, established in 1906. The research addresses the operations of the South Manchuria Railway, the Dairen Port, and maritime shipping conducted by the South Manchuria Railway Company during this period. An overview of Japan's policy to expand railway connectivity is provided, detailing the construction of additional rail routes, including Mukden–Xinmin, Mukden– Andong, and Changchun–Jilin. The competition between the South Manchuria Railway and the Chinese port of Yingkou, as well as cargo transportation along the Liao River, is analyzed, highlighting methods of competitive strategy. The article also reviews the relationship between the South Manchuria Railway and the Chinese Eastern Railway, focusing on policies aimed at integrating the transport capabilities of both railways in Manchuria. The author concludes that by the onset of the Xinhai Revolution in China, Japan had successfully transformed the southern Manchurian region into a zone of its economic monopoly, laying the groundwork for future political and military strategic advancements.