Development Problems: Russia and the "Third World".

• Problems of political modernization.
• Integration of developing countries into the global economy.
• Globalization: consequences and challenges for semi-peripheral countries (China, India, Brazil).
• Russia’s relations with the major Third World countries (China, India and others).

Changes in the International Division of Labor, Russia’s Integration into the World Economy.

• Globalization of the world economy: basic trends in the international trade in commodities and services and in capital flows.
• Monitoring of the current situation in the world economy and basic commodities markets.
• Russian economy: international specialization.
• Transport as a component of foreign economic ties.
• Russia’s participation in the international division of labor: regional aspects (CIS, EU, APR).
• Measures to encourage foreign investments in Russia.
• Russia’s cooperation with international organizations (WTO, IMF, WB, EBRD).
• Regulation of foreign economic activity: federal and regional levels.

Russia’s National Interests, its Foreign Policy and National Security Strategy.

• The impact of changes inside Russia on its foreign policy.
• National security interests and development of international cooperation.
• Military reform and arms reduction.
• Russia and the USA.
• Russia and Europe.
• Russia and the APR.
• Russia and the developing countries.
• Russia and the post-Soviet countries.

Russia’s Place in the Emerging Multi-polar System of International Relations.

• Reshaping of the world political order.
• Globalization and regionalization in international relations.
• Configuration of centers of power and influence on the world arena.
• Threats to international stability and a search for sustainable world order.
• Russia in the changing geopolitical environment, threats to its national security
• Problems of Russia’s integration into the world community.

World and Russian Economic Thought: Problems, Approaches.

• Institutional frame of a modern market economy.
• Major modern schools of economic thought
• Economic theory and politics: national and cultural distinctions.
• Western and Russian models of economic development: comparative analysis.
• Special theories of credit and money.

Economic Problems of Transition.

• Economies in transition: specific features.
• Microeconomic theory of behavior of economic agents.
• Sustainable development: structural and investment priorities.
• National development of Russia in the context of global competition in technologies.
• International economic comparisons; analysis of the future role of Russia in the world economy and politics.

Economic and Political Integration: International Experience.

• Economic globalization and integration of national economies.
• Economic integration models (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific Region): comparative analysis.
• International integration bodies: national and supra-national levels of regulation of economic relations.
• Development of international political integration (European Union and the like): theoretical aspects.
• Integration processes in the Third World.

Asia-Pacific Region in the World Economy and Politics.

• Integration processes in the APR and its sub-regions.
• Integration of Russia’s Far East into the APR.
• The place of Japan in the system of regional and global international relations.
• China in the globalizing world: economy, politics, security.
• Russian-Chinese “strategic partnership”.
• Security and cooperation in the APR. The states’ national interests, confidence-building measures, transparency in the military sphere.
• Forecasts for economic and technological development of Japan and China. The place and role of the APR (and its sub-regions) in the world economy.

Russia’s Transitional Economy: Making Use of the World Market Reforms Experience.

• Efficient market economy models in the main centers of economic power (Western Europe, North America, East Asia): comparative analysis.
• Institutional environment for entrepreneurship, evolution of the entrepreneurial function and the market structure.
• Socio-economic role of the State.
• Federalism and division of powers.

Modern Civilization: Social Development and Socio-Political Institutions.

• Political process and civil society institutions in developed countries.
• Social development, social and labor relations in Russia.
• Social policy in developed countries: macro- and micro-levels.