The article is dedicated to the conceptualization of the innovations in the theories of T. Parsons at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. It is stated the increased interest for structural functionalism in the development of sociological theory as well as in applied research. The article illustrates that the attempt of T. Parsons to create a system of categories enable to accept systematic integration of sociological science, explaining the existence of all the levels of the society and all the social forms in the process of movement of the matter, caused great interest among the scientists in the leading sociological centres of the world. The structurally-functionalist paradigm, associated with Parsons, was reflected in institutional imperatives of “ethnic science” by R. Merton, representation of science as a multilevel continuum, suggested by D. Alexander, in the conception/concept of “double contingency” by N. Luhmann, culture as a network of symbols by C. Geertz, the theory of communicative action by J. Habermas, in the theory of structuration by A. Giddens, the concept of the acting person by A. Touraine and etc.

The author analyzes the theories of American sociologists J. Abu-Lughod and F. Moulder that were devoted to the development of world-system analysis of I. Wallerstein. J. Abu-Lughod researched into the world-system, which existed in 1250-1350 A.D., F. Moulder undertook research into the integration of China and Japan into the modern world-system.

In article research of elite in modern Russian society, as one of the main directions of studying of social structure, about the topical issues resolved by school of a domestic elitology is considered.

Like many others countries Russia try to change her own national education system in accordance with some global trends. The article analyses some reality and international assessments of this process and shows: those international investigations and education assessments are realized in Russia without necessary logic, so they became harmful for real educational process and national interests.

Article is devoted to changes of the Russian family legislation in the XX century. Laws of the Russian Empire provided very few reasons for divorce. At the end of XIX - the beginning of the XX centuries the part of the intellectuals demanded liberalization of the legislation. The reforms which happened after October revolution of 1917 considerably changed all system of family values that led to strengthening of crisis of a family.

Peculiarities of communication in organizations of “closed”, “opened”, “simultaneous” and “chance” types are described in the article. The authors use their personal experience as a trainer and a consultant. The necessity of the formation and support of effective communication by management of a modern enterprise is actualized. The advantages, the lacks and the dynamical characteristics of the organizational models and communicational manifestations in them are analyzed. Preconditions and factors of efficacy of organizational communication are offered.

The article is devoted to the phenomenon of information partnership in modern civil society. The main forms of functioning are analyzed, including “general civic”, “expert”, “constitutional”, “discussion-political” and others. Universal functions of information partnership are revealed.

This article examines the problems of developing an integrated approach to the formation of interconnected factors of social policy. Identified the need to integrate economic and social factors. As a system of socio-economic, policy includes the phenomena of human and social capital. The analysis of the international rankings of economic and social development from the perspective of the key problems of social dynamics. Presents directions of social policy of Russia in the long term and short term. Named social risks of devaluation of the national currency.

The article is devoted to methodological foundations of the study of personal qualities of leaders, including civil servants in the works of Plato, Aristotle and M. Weber. The empirical model of the structure of personal qualities of leaders of goal-rational, value-rational and affectional Weber’s types of social action is presented, so Weber’s concept about social action gets another approach to verification in practice. The differential features of effective managers of industrial enterprises are shown.

French companies are involved in the management of expatriates to other areas of the world including Russia to supervise production sites with the local workforce. The main motivation for executives to move to Russia is the potential for significant promotion in career and increase their standard of living. Companies in their international development face the challenge of managing the complexity of the human factor use intercultural coaching. This study points to specific character of French and Russian business cultures. This finding allows discussing practical implications for cross-cultural communication for Russian and French managers working together.

The dynamics completed suicides in the UK over the years 1981-2011. Discusses the distribution of suicides by sex, age. The geographical distribution of suicide mortality of the UK population by region.

This paper explores the processes of democracy, democratization and transition as the phenomena that characterize world’s political scene of the XX and XXI century. Special attention is given to criticism of democracy and the possibilities of its implementation in some modern societies.

The material presents a review of the book of the western researchers in its original language: “The handbook of political sociology: states, civil societies and globalisation” (ed. by T. Janoski, R. Alford, A. Hicks, M.A. Schwartz).

This article examines the impact of Protestant communities in Russia on the socioeconomic development of the country. Periods of Protestantism in Russia are defined, and specific examples from the life of Protestants in Russia are given.

The article examines categories “structure” and “functions” relating to a scientific research team, the possibility of their application in sociological analysis of a research team performance and ways of its improving. The article also contains an algorithm of such analysis.

The article states an attempt to adjust the views on the forms and levels of human activity and possible interpretations of the notion of “meaning”. Author offers to give three definitions of the word “meaning” according the general scheme of human activity, which includes three levels.