Abstract: The subject of this research is the peculiarities of application of modern teaching techniques in higher education exemplified by the Master's academic discipline “The Specifics of Legal and Organizational Cooperation of States in the Area of Protection from Disasters in the context of Regional Mechanisms”, implemented in the Master’s program “Law in the Sphere of Regional International Relations”. The author gives characteristics to the traditional teaching techniques, taking into account the peculiarities of the indicated discipline, as well as proposes different forms of their implementation for improving the quality of teaching. The main conclusions consists in the statement that in modern higher education pedagogy it is of utmost importance to implement the entire range of available teaching techniques, selecting each based on the topic of the course, the contingent and level of education of students, as well as other criteria. It is underlined that modern education should filled with both, passive and interactive methods, regardless of the specialty and selected discipline. This fact is of particular relevance in the Master's level of education. The article employs the positions of various researchers in the sphere of pedagogy and psychology, reflected in the scientific articles on the topic. The author believes that this topic is a mainstream in the scientific publicistic writing, and can contribute to the further improvement of the quality of teaching techniques used in modern higher education.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the analysis of the forms of implementation of interactive teaching techniques in form of game technologies on the example of a specific discipline within the framework of the Master's Degree program “Law in the Field of Regional International Relations”. The object of this article is the “business game” and “group research” as form of giving a lesson. Special attention is turned to the analysis of characteristics of interactive technologies, developed by the author from the basic definition, as well as to the characteristics of the methodology of implementation of game technologies in the context of the academic discipline “The Peculiarities of Organizational and Legal Cooperation of States in the field of Protection from Disasters within the framework of Regional mechanisms”. The main conclusions are as follows: game technologies is an essential element of teaching and should actively implemented; it is important to think through the goal and tasks of a specific game technology in order to achieve the desired result; a particular type of the implemented game technology depends on different aspects, including the level of training, discipline and topic; the use of game technologies in education allows the students to reinforce the studied material, identify and fill the gaps in knowledge, and learn how to apply the acquired knowledge. A special contribution of the author to the study of the topic is the presented methodological characteristics of the application of specific game technologies in the framework of the considered academic discipline. The novelty of this research consists in refraction of the general theoretical characteristics of interactive methods and their forms in teaching legal disciplines within the framework of Master's Degree Program.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the establishment and promotion of the international humanitarian centers as the means of “soft power” for creating a positive image of Russian in Eastern Europe and Transcaucasia. The author meticulously examines the peculiarities of the institution of “soft power”, as well as its application techniques. One of the recent is the humanitarian cooperation realizes by the Russian Federation in form of institutional international cooperation of the specially designed centers that provide humanitarian aid and other assistance in the area of protection against disasters. Special attention is given to the activity of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center, its legal and political status, foreign policy issues encountered by the partnering countries. The scientific novelty is defined by the fact that the international humanitarian centers became the subject of interdisciplinary research for the first time. The author describes them as the international law institutions on one hand, and the state’s “soft power” strategy on the other. Humanitarian cooperation itself is rarely analyzed in the context of fulfilling foreign policy interests of the country. The author underlines the following facts: the importance of application of the various “soft power” techniques for creating the country’s image and advancing its foreign policy; use of humanitarian cooperation in the area of protection against disasters in this context as one of the effective methods; despite the existing opposition of Western countries, the further implementation and promotion of the activity of humanitarian centers is necessary.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the establishment and promotion of the international humanitarian centers as the means of “soft power” for creating a positive image of Russian in Eastern Europe and Transcaucasia. The author meticulously examines the peculiarities of the institution of “soft power”, as well as its application techniques. One of the recent is the humanitarian cooperation realizes by the Russian Federation in form of institutional international cooperation of the specially designed centers that provide humanitarian aid and other assistance in the area of protection against disasters. Special attention is given to the activity of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center, its legal and political status, foreign policy issues encountered by the partnering countries. The scientific novelty is defined by the fact that the international humanitarian centers became the subject of interdisciplinary research for the first time. The author describes them as the international law institutions on one hand, and the state’s “soft power” strategy on the other. Humanitarian cooperation itself is rarely analyzed in the context of fulfilling foreign policy interests of the country. The author underlines the following facts: the importance of application of the various “soft power” techniques for creating the country’s image and advancing its foreign policy; use of humanitarian cooperation in the area of protection against disasters in this context as one of the effective methods; despite the existing opposition of Western countries, the further implementation and promotion of the activity of humanitarian centers is necessary.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the characteristics of special principles of international law in the area of international cooperation on protection against disasters. The current international relations actively develop in different directions, which leads to emergence of the new fields of shared interests. One of such spheres is the international cooperation on protection against disasters – the direction actively realized within the framework of the United Nations, other universal and regional organizations, as well as in terms of bilateral cooperation. As of today, this sphere gains particular relevance from the perspective of legal regulation and direct implementation. These relations are based on the fundamental elements of the system of international law – generally recognized principles, as well as the special principles reflecting the specifics of such relations. Having analyzes the documents and practice of their application, the author determines the peculiarities of both groups of the principles in such specific area of cooperation as the protection against disasters. The current international agreements of various level and soft law documents allow forming a certain system of such principles, reflecting the issues of their establishment, application and recognition. It is concluded that the future practical implementation of the indicated principles in the area of international cooperation on protection against disasters, their consolidation within the framework of bilateral, regional and other universal agreements, will contribute to the development of relations therein, mechanism of their legal regulation, and improvement of the international institutional system.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the public relations on international cooperation in the context of UN program for disaster risk reduction. The object of this research is the structure of the United nations responsible for implementation of measures on forecasting and response to disasters, as well as liquidation of their consequences. The goal lies in giving characteristics to the activity of UN multidirectional institutional mechanism that maintains international cooperation with regards to protection against various types of disasters. The author analyzes the establishment of this structure, its saturation with diverse functions, realignment and activities. The article presents the opinions of multiple scholars and experts, as well as author’s independent conclusions on the advantages and disadvantages of the structure of the UN. The author underlines presence of the system of structural elements with different legal status in the context of UN, involved, within their competence, in the mechanism for protection against various types of disasters. The conducted analysis reveals flaws in its functionality, however, the system helps reducing consequences of disasters. The scientific novelty consists in the comprehensive analysis of formation of the system, its functionality and cooperation with other international institutions; while other similar works usually consider only one or several structural elements of the system, or provide critical assessment of its current activity.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the analysis of the various criteria of formation of the new branch of international law, among which are the subject of legal regulation, sources and principles. The author analyzes the positions of Russian and foreign scholars with regards to formation of the international law of disasters; demarcates from the international humanitarian law and international law of environmental protection, international security law. The article also examines the social relations that are a part of the subject of legal regulation of the international law of disasters. In the course of this research, the author applies the comparative method, analysis and synthesis of information pertinent to emergence of the new branch of international law. The sphere of international regulation of protection from disasters in insufficiently studied within the Russian legal science. Leaning of the works of prominent international legal experts, the author structures the original concept and provides valid arguments of its existence. A conclusion is made on the active development of international relations in the area of protection from disasters, gradual formation of legal platform for their regulation and establishment of the new independent branch of international law – the international law of disasters.

Abstract: The subject of this research is one of the new directions in activity of the regional intergovernmental organization ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) – the protection from natural disasters. ASEAN rarely becomes the object of research, namely in the context of realization of protection from natural disasters. Escalation of the existing problems in this sphere in the early XXI century in the Pacific Rim triggered the development of the new vector in activity of the organization. The author describes in details the peculiarities of establishment of this mechanism, its problems and prospects. Special attention is given to the content of framework agreements of ASEAN, which are the core of the entire mechanism of cooperation. Methodological base includes the historical approach to establishment of the analyzed relations, analysis and synthesis of information on the activity of organization in the indicated sphere, as well as its legal regulation. The conclusion is made regarding the effectiveness of regional cooperation in the field of protection from natural disasters, as well as its openness for cooperation with the countries of the entire global community. The analysis demonstrates that ASEAN is a vivid example of proper use of its negative experience for advancement and improvement of the quality of cooperation in the particular area of interests of the organization.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the activity of the World Meteorological Organization in the area of forecasting the hazardous natural occurrences, and preparation of the states and people to their potential consequences and decrease. The author examines the development of this vector in terms of the World Meteorological Organization and the existing problems of effectiveness. The article analyzes the diverse programs of the Organization aimed at prevention of the hazardous natural occurrences and the disasters caused by them. The author explores the peculiarities of functioning of the Global Framework for Climate Services and the experienced issues in the process of its establishment. Attention is given to the activity of the World Meteorological Organization specifically in the area of prevention of disasters, which is rarely an object of research for scientific publications regarding this international institution. The conducted analysis allowed giving an accurate characteristic to the work of the World Meteorological Organization and its collaboration with the member-states in the field of forecasting of hazardous natural occurrences. The current issues and prospects of the acting international system are determined.