Maintenance of progress and regress of social systems in different historical context is considered in the article. Being interdependent directions of movement, progress and regress can be considered as integral indicators of society viability and possibility of its further development. Correlation of progressive and regressive changes in post-industrial society is defined by transformation of the globalized world civilization including heterogeneous types of socio-political systems. Modern social realities demonstrate continuous interrelation of the progressive development with a regressive vector that defines changes of public relations. This difficult multi-aspect historical process covers all spheres of post-industrial society, including its structural organization, level of stability of social system, character of internal and external contradictions.

This article studies various theories describing a reader as a recipient or prescribing a reader a certain way of reading, and reviles them as anthropotechnics forming such abilities or competences as empathy, reflection, self-discipline. As a result active and passive reading types are discovered and two vectors are established: work at self-improvement to produce a text and work at text to produce one’s own self. Articulating passions and desires, a person subordinates them to socially important codes and standards; constructing himself as a subject of reading, a person produces cultural memory, and thus becomes a public, civilized being. This leads to the conclusion that it is necessary to preserve the skill of reading in contemporary time of media technologies.

The article analyzes the formation of the philosophy teaching tradition at the Higher women's (Bestuzhev) courses. They were organized in 1878 at St. Petersburg University under the influence of ideas about the equality of men and women. The well-known University Professors delivered lectures for girl students in the same programs as for male students. It is shown that this tradition went far beyond the formal reading of philosophy and logic. Girl students participated in serious publishing projects, became full members of the St. Petersburg Philosophical Society, have been involved in teaching activities. We can talk about the academic Union, in which professors and girl students linked the idea of science. The scientific «feminine» elite was formed under the influence of brilliant Professors of St. Petersburg University.

The article discusses the significance of geopolitical paradigms and their implementation by main actors in global politics in the transition from a unipolar to a polycentric world. The system of relations between the «great powers» is analyzed, their content and significance in the world politics of today. The authors substantiate the position that in the context of confrontational opposition, the priority of polycentricity allows in the historical perspective to take into account not only their own interests, but also the interests of regional actors. The characteristics of the status quo in the world and the place of Russia in it are given. It is shown that the conceptual provision of the interaction principles between the main actors in world politics gains not only theoretical but also practical importance in the process of formation and organization of geopolitical space.

The general definitions of health and social functions of nutrition, the structure of nutrition of residents of St. Petersburg and Leningrad (based on Rosstat and Petrostat statistics), dietary habits, social differences in diet, attitude to food are considered. The relationship between nutrition and health is shown for various social groups (rich and poor, men and women, young and old). Based on a survey conducted in 2016-2017. an empirical study of social nutrition practices in St. Petersburg, «Food and We» (in-depth interviews and telephone interviews), and analysis of statistics, shows how the situation in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region really is. The basic factor determining the correct nutrition model is education, which forms a rational and systematic approach to consumed food. The problems of nutrition are analyzed and practical recommendations for creating a healthy food system are given.

The formation of the concept of motherland history assumes great importance during the search of new foundations for national consolidation of the Russian society. The attitude of citizens towards the historical past, traditions of their country, realization of the so-called "history lessons" forms both an attitude to the present and a vision for the future. The development of society while preserving its stability is possible only in the conditions of the integrity of historical consciousness, the fulfillment of its integrative function. At the same time, there is a contradictory nature of the creation of the so-called "national history" in the ethno-territorial formations of the Russian Federation. Supported by individual regional authorities, local schools of historiography create such systems of historical knowledge that are aimed at the formation of identity in line with the policy of ethno-nationalism. Historical consciousness under conditions of change, transformation of society plays a dual role. On the one hand it performs an integrative function, on the other hand it can become a source of confrontation and splits in the society and among peoples.

The article reveals the main methodological principles of the analysis of the multifunctional nature of modern rural families in the changing Russian society. The importance of concrete historical approach, taking into account regional peculiarities of living of rural families, consideration of the functions of the family as a social institution and as a small social group, the need to distinguish between functions of rural and urban family are shown. New social challenges that affect the appearance of actual approaches to the study of family functions are presented. The polyfunctionality of the rural family is considered as a necessity to realize the challenges of the external environment and meet the needs of family members.

The article is devoted to tourism as a resource of Soft Power. A content analysis of publications in foreign scientific journals on the subject demonstrates that the perception of tourism in the context of soft power is evaluated as a promising direction in the development of tourism industry, as well as an opportunity to humanize political technologies.

The main modern problems and directions of quality management development in organizations special place among which is given to the development of intellectual activity and new technologies are considered, the list of fixed assets and methods of improvement of business and engineering of quality, the main concepts and approaches, problems and prospects of application of methods and instruments of quality management in the organizations, the main directions of the development of management integrated systems, advantage of their development and deployment for the improvement of the sustainable organizations development is presented, including the questions connected with application of international standards for management systems organized on the principles of general quality management according to new requirements of the ISO standards 9000 and ISO 9001 accepted in 2015 the main modern achievements of quality management in the direction of creation of the favorable environment for business are presented

The article is devoted to the problem of predictive evaluation of the development strategy efficiency of a manufacturing system under non-stationary conditions. A toolkit for reducing the uncertainty of the future system state is presented proceeding from methods of nonparametric econometrics. The approach is based on the randomization methodology of empirical data and identification of the constructed distribution, as a model for the development after the bifurcation point. Identification is carried out using a nonparametric consent criterion. The really achievable indicators of the development strategy can be determined based on the constructed model.

The main problems of the description of human, social, manpower recourses are presented when managing enterprise to ensure enterprise competitiveness, key indicators of manpower efficiency are given, the concept of the human capital is revealed, the structure of the human capital is given. It is proposed to count the value of human potential depending on a physical condition of a person, not only in value terms. It is shown that the physical condition of a person directly depends on his «genetic predisposition», skills, abilities, knowledge gained by a particular person during various periods of his life.

The article is devoted to the problem of forming a unified requirements system for the assessment of specialists’ qualifications in the field of innovation management. The review and analysis of professional standards in the field of innovation activities in the Russian Federation is presented. The recommendations on usage the professional standards of related areas, such as: organization and management of research and development, risk management, information management in the framework of assessment of specialists qualifications in the field of innovation management allowing to consider the management of innovation activities in terms of digital economy and the knowledge economy development are provided. The foreign experience of application of professional standards in the field of innovative activity is investigated. The comparative analysis of foreign standards and standards operating in the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out, and the corresponding recommendations are offered.