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Annotation

Choosing the optimal way for a country to move on requires objective vision of existing situation, political course, social relations, public conscience and presumable goals of further movement. These issues are in focus of the third part of collective monograph, prepared by a group of researchers, united by the Institute of Europe, RAS. The authors believe that, during its term, the modern administration of Russia succeeded in passing a part of the way from catastrophic consequences of destructive policy of the 1990s to relative recovery. However, many important outstanding tasks have not been fulfilled. This is more or less evident in most spheres of social life. Stability, declared as the main goal of the political course, has been achieved - although purely on the surface - on the level of top, ruling groups only. The society is still subject to uncertainty and anxiety. The optimal structure of power is still unclear. Forms and methods of reaction of political institutions to the new challenges, resulting from peculiarities of internal and external development, have not been determined. Social and economic spheres require major modification. The conclusion, to which the text below leads the reader, is as follows: a sophisticated and weighted policy, taking into account interests of all layers of society and public conscience, may minimize any crisis developments and, thus, the threats accumulated so far. By means of such policy, the social process, which is now posing threats to the Russian society, may assume more streamlined forms. This fact outlines the major importance, and hence actuality, of objective scientific analysis, which may serve as the basis for developing and making practical decisions.