The paper analyzes the transformation processes of the systems of social inequality in the second half of XX century societies. It also views the changes in sociological theories and their research methods brought about by these transformations.

This article describes a set of problems of evolution of the modern state. Tendencies modification of the territorial state in the context of globalization. Explore the possibility of going to the institutions of the new world order, marked their shortcomings, not to effectively solve the accumulated social problems. It is shown that the crisis of the modern welfare state is not predetermined by the state as a social institution of society; the causes are genetic properties of a market economy.

Identity and the factors influencing its construction in the contemporary society from the point of view of modern identity concepts are discussed. In contemporary society the definition and construction of the individual identity is one of the most important problems. Dynamics of choices’ multiplicity, erosion of rigid traditions and norms, they challenge permanent override of individual identity; and this has an impact on the social structure of the society as whole. Most researchers agree that identity becomes a multi-leveled and flexible system as a result of pluralization and uncertainty of social life.

Realization of Weber’s research program, its further development and application is one of the main objectives of neo- and post-Weberianism. This article is devoted to the analysis of interrelation of views of Max Weber and Cornelius Castoriadis on problems of an autonomy, bureaucracy and democracy in the light of an explication of Weber’s research program in methodological and ontological aspects. Problems of a representativeness of democracy in the conditions of bureaucratization and oligarchization are considered.

The article considers the international experience of studying of the upper class (USA, UK, Norway, Sweden). On the ground of the foreign studies we can try to highlight the main criteria for the identification of a given social class and formulate its essential definition.

The basic (standard) type of family - a married couple with children. Only such families can ensure the survival of the population. Peripheral types of families (childless couples, one parent families) are incomplete set of family links, roles and functions. But it’s still a family which can become standard, if childless spouses born children or a single mother get married. Same-sex couples can’t go through this transition and to perform all the functions of the family. This is a new phenomenon that requires a new name that is different from the words of the “marriage” and “family”.

The article analyzes international political architecture of government buildings in Russia, the U.S., Western Europe (UK, France, Germany) and Asia (China, India, Japan). Conclusions that the architecture of government buildings reflects the values of the dominant society’s political culture. Some government buildings are prototypes constructed previously in other societies and cultural traditions (for instance, the Capitol in Washington, USA, and the Capitoline temple in Rome).

In article it analyses different aspects of Russian people’s religiosity (using the results of autor’s research 2010-2012). Positions are: attitude of beliefs to religion and church, their life and socio-political activity; what the beliefs thing, how they exist, work and communicate, percept a scientific progressing; a participation in socio-political state-life, human rights and tolerance among other people etc. Autor shows the situation and prognostic of this social group.

One of the most serious sociopolitical problems in Russia, as well as in all civilised world, now is steady strengthening of economic stratification of the population and, as consequence - growth of relative poverty of a considerable part of the population. Most the poverty acute problem costs for so-called socially vulnerable categories of the population - children and pensioners whom or (children) of concrete sources at all cannot have, or its (pensioners) in the size insufficient for worthy existence have, but are thus deprived (on the objective bases) physical possibility independently to change / raise level of own material maintenance. Besides both vulnerable categories of the population concern demographic groups of the raised physiological risk.

The article explains the current state and the level of socio-economic development of the Far Eastern Federal District, as one of the most promising districts of Russia. Identifies and analyzes the factors that affect the dynamics and direction of market transformation District, on his role in the integration of Russia into the world of globalization and integration.

Foreign migration to the Russian Far East is a comparatively new phenomenon; however within the period of the last 20 years there have emerged certain problems of interaction between ethnic migrants and the receiving society. The article provides data on ethnic migration in the Far Eastern region of Russia that can serve as an empirical background for analysis of how different groups of ethnic migrants could be integrated in the Russian society.

The article considers the problem of formation and development of civil society in contemporary Russia as an example of the Central Federal District. The author defines the necessary social, economic, political and cultural conditions for the successful development of civil society in our country.

The article considers the phenomenon of charitable giving as a part of social system. The approaches to defining its social efficiency have been given. The efficiency factors have been revealed.

The article is devoted to the influence of media and communication technologies on society. Main dates and researches are described. Several social risks of using virtual communication networks are mentioned.

The article is a review of the training manual Yu.P. Averin “Theoretical constructs quantitative sociological research”.