The ambiguous process of global changes associated with the growing instability of modern society, the aggravation of the social tension in the world between developed and developing countries, the opposition of the well-being of the chosen minority to disadvantage and poverty of the majority, has highlighted the imperfection of existing institutions and the need to move to a new model of the social world order. On the basis of institutional analysis, the article reveals the inefficiency of the functioning of public institutions, which leads to the reproduction of unstable structural social interactions and the opposition of various societies, groups, individuals. The problem of transforming existing institutions into institutions of inequality turns into a system (structure-forming) and becomes relevant both in fundamental theoretical development and in its practical solution in ensuring the development and enhancement of the vitality of modern society.
As a result of the research it was shown that the systemic crisis of modern capitalist society is, first of all, an institutional crisis related to the imperfection and inefficiency of the functioning of its key institutions (family, property and state). They essentially stopped (or cease) in various ways to promote social development and began to turn into institutions of inequality at different levels of the social system and encompass its various structural elements: at the level of the institution of the family it is associated with the beginning of the deformation of the institutional matrix of the relationship between a man and a woman (gender balance between role positions); at the level of the institution of property, it is predetermined by the concentration of power and the distribution of resources in the hands of pseudoelites; at the state level, it is due to the fact that it is being transformed into a supranational corporation, which, depending on the nature of its legitimacy (or illegitimacy), reproduces certain permissible (or unacceptable) limits of social inequality.

The article is devoted to the concept of social inequality of the British sociologist Zygmunt Bauman (1925–2017). The transformation of the views of the sociologist into the problem of social inequality is traced. The article also analyzes the influence of Z. Bauman’s work on modern sociological theory, and identifies a range of basic topics and questions. Based on the biographical and methodological criteria in the work of Z. Bauman, several periods are singled out.
The Warsaw period (Poland) is characterized by the influence of Marxism and consideration of social inequality through a class approach. Publications published in Polish did not arouse the interest of the sociological community, but served as a starting point in the work of Z. Bauman. In the Leeds period (Great Britain), the British sociologist significantly reconsiders the methodological foundations of his theory. The key concepts of the second period are «“fluid” modernity», “access”, “consumption”. The notions of “class” and “labour” are replaced by “new poor” existing in unstable communities and forced to construct their own identity through consumption. The important component of this transformation is the process of individualization. Access to displacement, production of culture, information, lack of property as an aggravating factor is distinguished by modern elites.
Later, the author actively uses the concept of “postmodern”, and also refers to such categories as “narrative”, “reflexivity” and “identity”. From the objective characteristics of social position, the author turns to an analysis of the perception of the situation in social relations by the subjects of social relations. To describe this subjective assessment Z. Bauman introduces the concepts of “told lives” and “lived stories”. Social inequality is maintained, constructed and reproduced through a set of attitudes prevalent in modern societies. The information revolution does not improve the situation of the poor, but leads to further deterioration of the situation, deepening inequality and exclusion. Nevertheless, “fatality on freedom” allows, according to Z. Bauman, to argue that social inequality is not the only possible fate of mankind.

The article examines the main trends in the development of sociology of medicine as a branch of sociology. As it is pointed out by the author, nowadays sociology of medicine is an actual scientific course about social aspects of health and illness, medicine as a social structure. All these items are important under the modern social development. Based on the analysis of the main stages in the history of sociology of medicine, the author notes the contribution of physicians to this process and practical meaning of early studies. The accumulation of empirical knowledge on health led to the theoretical comprehension, that was done by American sociologists, such as T. Parsons, E. Freidson, E. Goffman, H. Becker, R. Merton, and others. The author pays special attention to the study of T. Parsons “The Social System”, in which a structural and functional analysis of medicine as a social institution was presented. After it became obvious that the sociology of medicine can develop not only as an applied field of scientific research, but also a theoretical one. As A.V. Reshetnikov, W. Cockerheim, S. Bloom note, the process of institutionalization of the sociology of medicine ends in the second half of the 20th century in Europe and America, at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries in Russia. The main trends in studies around sociology of medicine are based on such theoretical approaches of sociology as symbolic interactionism, structural functionalism, social constructionism. In conclusion, the author underlines that, the sociology of medicine, like any field of scientific knowledge, reacts dynamically to the ongoing changes in social reality, its structure, social institutions. As a result of this influence, the research field of the sociology of medicine is expanding. Among the topical issues are social inequality in health, the features of the development of digital health, new practices in health, transformation of the value of health in the post-industrial society, pharmaceticisation, biomedicalization, etc.

The article examines the concept of urbanization of the American researcher Edward Soja, who notes the transition from metropolis to postmetropolis, thereby fixing the emergence of postmodern urban entities. He argues the need to develop a new urban research methodology, since the models of the Chicago school are outdated. They describe monocentric cities, and in the modern world we are dealing with polycentric agglomerations. Soya demonstrates that the social problems of cities are beginning to spread to the suburbs, which are no longer prosperous areas. The main reasons for the new stage of urbanization are highlighted: globalization, economic restructuring and the development of information and communication technologies. Six modern discourses related to the design and functioning of the post-metropolis are analyzed in detail. The main problems of postmetropolis are considered: inequality, social injustice, uneven distribution of social benefits, exclusion, rising crime, environmental degradation, etc. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of suburbs, which leads to a change in spatial inequality and the emergence of new forms of it.

The article is devoted to the identification of specific features of social management of the editorial office of a modern radio station. The purpose of this article is to consider various aspects of the management of a modern radio station, on the example of “Echo of Moscow” to identify the principles of its functioning, the interaction of editorial staff with the target audience. The objectives of the study include consideration of such concepts as “format”, “programming”, “formatting” of radio broadcasting, as well as factors affecting the effectiveness of management, such as the potential of employees, means of production, culture of organization, leadership of the head of mass media, classroom factor; analysis of the classification of modern radio stations; identification of specific for modern socio-political radio “Echo of Moscow” methods of team management and work with the audience. Today, like other mass media, radio has become a mobile source of broadcasting. This factor has transformed the style of broadcasting and the content of radio programs in General. “Echo of Moscow” is a universal radio station on the thematic focus of broadcasting, but it is focused mainly on broadcasting news, special attention is paid to news of politics and culture, reviews of the press, conversations with guests who are experts on various socially significant issues. The organizational structure of the radio station “Echo of Moscow” should be considered to the structure of the linear-functional type, in which the full power takes over the linear head, who heads the team. This structure has both pros and cons. The editorial office of the radio station “Echo of Moscow” is a social organization in which specific relationships are formed, due to the organizational structure of the enterprise and the overall goal of the team. Mutual assistance, team spirit, willingness to help, both in professional activities and at the interpersonal level, speak of the formation of corporate relations in the team of “Echo of Moscow”. Joint events, collective events unite employees and help to solve the branding problem, contribute to the promotion of the media and strengthen its positive reputation.

A textbook on the sociology of culture is seen as a way of systematization of knowledge in this branch of sociology and as a didactic mechanism for student learning. The role of such a textbook is analyzed at three levels: 1) the existence of the concept of the textbook that meets the characteristics of the scientific status of sociology of culture; 2) the severity of the problem approach, correlated with the capabilities of the sociology of culture compared to other disciplines and scientific fields studying culture and its various types and forms; 3) the priority of the theoretical or applied aspects of the sociological study of culture. A chronological perspective on the main subject of the article allows to judge about the specifics of the development of sociology of culture as a branch of science, which is reflected in textbooks and teaching materials. On the other hand, this vector points to the potential of each individual tutorial to develop sociological knowledge about the culture. Taken together, these circumstances point to the problematic aspects of conceptualising how the field of sociology and the possibility of teaching this discipline at the University.
The article focuses on the understanding of the role of the textbook in the didactic plan, but in the sociology of culture the textbook is considered not only as a way to teach the student, but also as a factor of enriching the field of sociology with new approaches and new knowledge in general. Thus, a textbook on the sociology of culture can be given the status of a scientific publication. Often the textbook at the same time performs a heuristic function, which allows you to realize a rather controversial potential of sectoral sociology more productively among students.

The emergence and development of Marxist feminism in Russia and in the world in general is considered in article on the basis of the analysis of primary sources. The problem of position of women attracted a keen interest of representatives of the most different sociological schools in Russia during its formation. The Marxist feminism was the separate significant direction in the Russian sociological thought. It developed as the special theoretical project and also it had bright experience of implementation. Among representatives of the Russian Marxist sociology names of V.I. Lenin, N.K. Krupskaya, A.M. Kollontay which made a big contribution to development of this direction are known. The feminism of the Marxist direction made breakthrough in the theory and implementation of the ideas. In a year of the two- hundredth anniversary since the birth of K. Marx numerous scientific conferences bring up the questions of social development which were occurring in Russia and caused considerable changes of social life again. The Marxist feminism was one of such significant events in the history of the country and in the history of domestic sociology. Now results and consequences of activity of supporters of the Russian Marxist feminism are reinterpreted. During the XX century their main ideas and achievements were exposed to criticism not only in the Russian, but also in foreign sociology. At the same time the author notes that the Marxist feminism develops and now on the basis of the general idea that the gender relations are parallel to class, interact with them and in a sense are their integral part. In modern sociology various directions within socialist feminism were created.

Individualization is the process of distancing and relief an individual from any form of collectivities: collective consciousness, traditions, traditional group membership — and obtaining own, specific, only inherent characteristics by individual. Individualization as a historical and sociological category has various forms of its manifestation. One of the aspects of the individualization process is the detraditionalization of life spheres and the emergence of new “spaces of freedom”, which give rise to new challenges for society and for the individual. The such a challenge for society is the drop of the social institutions importance as traditional guidelines for “life strategies and life situations”. There are so — called “phantom institutions” that keep their external form but stop performing their tasks and change their meaning.
The individualization process has affected all spheres of society, including the public sphere. In the sociological tradition, the theme of change and decline of the public sphere is devoted to the work of J. Dewey, J. Habermas, H. Arendt, R. Sennett, W. Lippmann, etc. Researchers say about the public sphere crisis in modern Western society. It is associated with the fusion of public and private life, the consideration of the public sphere through personal interests and its description in the categories of intimacy. People treat to public affairs too personally, which can be properly managed only with the impersonal, in terms of personal feelings. Society becomes important for the individual as a psychological system.
The purpose of this paper is to show the fall of the public sphere as a reflection of the individualization process. If initially the public space was formed under the impact of mass media, political and legal systems and state systems, in the XXI century the public sphere becomes a space of expression of individual freedom and independence through the blogosphere, video portals and social networks. It is necessary to revise the concept of the public sphere because of the global communication networks development and the development of digital technologies.

The article deals with the problem of patriotic education of the Russian youth. In the face of contemporary external and internal threats patriotic education of citizens becomes a priority in ensuring national security of the country. History of Russia shows that the Patriotic idea was one of the significant factors in ensuring the consolidation of society. Underestimation of patriotism can lead to the reduction of socio-economic, spiritual and cultural foundations for the development of society and the state. One of the main objectives of the current domestic policy of the Russian state is the preservation of cultural and historical heritage and traditional system of values. The basis for these values should be patriotism.

The distinctive feature of the modern political process is the informatization of social space. In the context of Informatization, the Internet becomes an integral part of modern life, which leads to an irreversible transformation of the classical political process. In general, informatization can be viewed as a positive trend in the development of politics as a sphere of social life. The use of information technologies makes it possible to establish subject-subject interaction between citizens and political actors, leads to the process of democratization, allows for effective agitation, creates a basis for discussion platforms for discussing socially important problems, ensures the availability of a public information, etc. But at the same time this the trend has a number of negative aspects. First, the problem of “digital inequality”. Secondly, the negative trend towards fragmentation of the political segment of the network on the ideological basis, which leads to the marginalization of political activity and the lack of discussion. Thirdly, there is the problem of cyber security, state control over the Internet, manipulation of public consciousness, etc. However, in general, despite the existence of a number of destructive moments, full informatization seems to be the inevitable future of all spheres of public life, including political. Thus, it is necessary to look for ways to overcome negative factors in the development of the political segment of the web; to achieve its transformation into a real discussion and working platform for all legitimate political forces, regardless of their representation in the government bodies. The state should play a special role in this process, because the functions of public control was delegated to it, and from their competent use depends the future development of society as a whole and the political segment of the Internet in particular.