The article deals with actual problems of constructing the theoretical foundations of Russian sociology; the separate stages of the Russian history which has directly predetermined specific vectors of formation of theoretical bases of sociological discipline are analysed. The author highlights the key theoretical and methodological trends in pre-revolutionary Russia and shows their features; the reasons of loss by domestic sociology of own theory during the Soviet period are allocated; difficulties in reconstruction of theoretical bases of modern sociological knowledge in our country are designated. The inconsistency of attempts of a reconstruction of the sociological theory in Russia exclusively on the basis of the western samples is proved.

The paper analyzes the major theoretical-methodological and theoretical-empirical discourses which are shaping the present-day sociology.

This article investigates the logic, main procedures and the content of the theoretical and methodological construction of the sociological research project. Key issues at every stage of project design and during the process of transition from one stage to another are considered. The author proposes several ways of improving the accuracy and scientific significance of the results of sociological research by constructing models of different levels, consequential from one to another.

This article presents a general description of Analytical Marxism scientific school, which occurs in the 80s of XX century as an attempt to reconstruct classic categories of Marxist theory in modern science. Methodological features, main research topics of key representatives of this Marxist school are considered.

The article extracts and conceptualizes the key issues and clearly recognizes the methodological approaches of contemporary urban sociology. The article also provides an overview of the formation and development of concepts of modern urban studies. It is concluded that the transformations of urban discourse are correlated with rapid social change.

The article discusses the features of the current stage of technology development cooperation in the information society. Shows how the development of new forms of cooperation could lead to negative consequences.

The author analyzes the conception of the transnational capitalist class, that was developed by some British and American scientists in the late 20^th and the early 21^st centuries. This conception helps to understand many aspects of the formation of the global society deeper. The beginning of the world production and the formation of world division of labour transform the transnational capitalist class in the most powerful subject of the global world.

In article some aspects of research of a social inequality in the conditions of the globalization, described by U. Beck within the methodological approach accepted by it, as attempt to give the adequate description of modern social reality are considered.

Current article overlooks the strategies of reproductive behavior of citizens in urban agglomeration (the case of Moscow). The author analyzes how life in a big city influences the reproductive patterns, reveals the link between the urban lifestyle of the majority of the planet’s population and the crisis tendencies of family changes, such as late marriages and fertility, increase of proportion of childlessness and childfree, etc.

Current article analyzes the influence of Alain Touraine’s ideas and theories on discourse on contemporary sociology and political sociology. How do structural transformations of society, processes of social fragmentation and atomization influence the essence of democracy, public consciousness, interaction between citizens and the state? Such global questions pose difficult tasks for scholars, who need to revise and renew the traditional approaches to be able to respond to challenges of our time. Controversial and deep heritage of Alain Touraine doesn’t give answers to all questions, but it’s able to generate new kinds of discourse in sociological community and this is the reason it’s still valuable.

The paper presents a new look at the mechanisms of soft power as used in socio-cultural integration in the Eurasian space. The ways the West uses soft power are compared to how Russia is applying these mechanisms in building the Eurasian Economic Union. The author outlines the main objectives to be pursued by Russia using the tools of soft power, as well as suggests how to improve the existing mechanisms of soft power in Ruusia. The author refers to a vast body of research on soft power as an instrument of statecraft in general as well as the specific features of Russia’s soft power.

The article discusses the features of value orientations and practices of social and political participation of the Russians. The main factors and growth conditions of civic engagement in modern conditions are determined. The basic contradiction affecting the specifics of social and political participation in the Russian society is formulated.

Different groups of English-speaking population were interviewed. They discuss current situation with variability of English. Speakers of English can shift dialects according to social and cultural context. Some contexts imply the use of Standard English, others - dialects. The interviewed accept freedom of expression but they make judgments of those who misuse English.

The article deals with the cultural and social aspects of modernization of contemporary sociological education in Russia. Its update is done in the logic of the transition from tradition to modernity and post-modernity caused by contextual and discrete changes as manifestations of globalization.

Author touched the aspects of international and regional experience of information technologies development in education. The experience of educational technologies modernization on example of Buryat Republic is described in the article. The model of educational sphere changes based on the quality improving tools implantation is introduced.

Population ageing has become one of the most acute demographic challenges for all developed and developing countries, and for Russia this call in the foreseeable future looks even sharper than for many other countries. The growing proportion of old people raises the issue of society’s attitude to anility: both old and young people attitude. The author of this article will test the hypothesizes about the relation of old age with the approach of death, as well as will estimate the perception of old age as the perception of death in accordance with sex, age, income and education, religion.

The article deals with the artist-genius myth as a brand study from the perspective of the sociology of art. The mythological structure of the brand analysis is been undertaken. It reveals the essence of the artist-genius myth as a brand on the art market. The social and historical origins of features considered as professional for the artist are been examined. The marginality, poverty, uniqueness of the artist’s talents are considered as the fundamentals of the artistic brand. The branding marketing techniques functioning in the context of the art production field are been described. Findings of the research relate to the features of the “artist-genius” brand mythological foundation current state and possibilities for its further improvement.

This article considers the problem of the sociocultural identity structure. The author singles out four basic dimensions of identity phenomenon in the frame of the proposed approach. These dimensions are located in the range between oppositional notions: individual - collective, internal - external, content - boundary, static nature - dynamic nature. The figure of the Other is regarded as the marginal phenomenon towards the individual identity. Also the functions of the Other in the process of identity formation are revealed.

Science Festival - one of the most effective and internationally renowned ways to attract public attention to science. In this article authors write about methods of popularizing science at the MSU faculty of sociology - traditional participant at the Science Festival. In the centre of the attention are exhibitions, public lectures and other events organized by the faculty that today celebrates its 25^th anniversary.

This review is dedicated to the problems of modern cities, which discussed on IV Moscow Urban Forum in December 2014. Participants of this Forum discussed possibilities and challengers that affect modern megacities and revealed the prospects of their development, which are considered not only in terms of efficient management, but also from the viewpoint of city residents.