In this paper, we study the effectiveness of popular machine learning methods for predicting high-growth firms in Kazakhstan and analyze this question with a set of 2012-2018 panel datasets. Moreover, we study the most important variables for the prediction of high-growth firms out of 50 variables included in the analysis. We develop a predictive design, where the past values are used to train classifiers that are applied in predicting future outcomes. Hereto, a test sample was used to evaluate the predictive performance of the classifiers. The results indicate that the best performing classifier increases the area under the curve equal to 0.8746. In terms of the variable importance, the firm’s past growth in size, past growth in employment, past growth in revenue, and second derivative of the growth of financial variables contributed the most to predicting high-growth firms.

Nowadays there is an increase in the number of political protests in modern society. In Central Asia these events are most visible in Kyrgyzstan. This article examines the theoretical and practical aspects of the political protests in Kyrgyzstan in 2020. The scholarly literature on the protests in this country has been classified according to different issues. There was used a secondary analysis of the results of sociological research. The publication describes the analysis of the recent years protests in Kyrgyz society. This research provides a detailed analysis of the reasons of political protests. Special attention was paid to the opinions of various researchers about the features of the protests in the country.

The issue of relations between Russia and The Baltic States is of particular relevance against the backdrop of interaction with the European Union. The change in the policy stance of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania after the Soviet Union’s collapse was reflected at the regional level. The desire to integrate the Baltic States into the EU and NATO has led to a series of determined political decisions that in turn have affected cooperation with Russia. In the process of developing relations with the European Union, the Russian Federation has begun to consider possibilities of cooperation with the Baltic countries as well. The article analyses the prospects for change, problems and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Baltic states at the regional level.

The article presents the results of an analysis of the capabilities of the BRICS member countries to influence the political development of the modern world order and international relations in the new geopolitical conditions in terms of the distribution of regional development functions. When considering the political and economic documents for the development of the activities of the BRICS member countries on key issues related to military-political cooperation, economic policy, the development of digital technologies, attention is paid to key areas for the development of partnership and strategic cooperation in the crisis conditions of the development of the system of international relations.

Cybersecurity issues have become the main feature for internal security in Central Asia, since today everything is subject to digitization processes: personal documents, video surveillance, electronic dossiers on suspects, interception of cellular communications, forecasting and information collection, etc. Cyber defense, like nuclear deterrence, began to be implemented through deterrence, so here the fundamental strategic balance may be disrupted with relatively modest resources. One of the significant topics associated with the regulation of numerical space is represented as a guarantee of cybersecurity. Against the background of increasing extremism, this problem is extremely topical for CA. Even if the Central Asian states have not yet achieved the level of a high-tech community, the subject of cybersecurity has takeover the regional media in an ambivalent context.

Today, the issue of gender equality is becoming increasingly important. One of the regions in which the problem of gender equality is acute is the Middle East. Therefore, the relevance of studying the state of gender equality in the countries of the Middle East is important in order to identify the main problems of gender equality in this region. The article proposes an analysis of digital media resources regarding the issue of gender equality in the region under study. In addition, the authors provide an analysis of the influence of socio-cultural and religious factors on the development of gender equality in the countries of the Middle East. The problems of discrimination based on gender in the region were analyzed using the PEST analysis toolkit. In the course of the research work, the authors came to reasonable conclusions regarding the issue of gender equality in the countries of the Middle East.

The President of Kazakhstan, on September 1, 2020, addressing the citizens of the country, took the initiative to hold direct local elections. Such elections should become a new stage of political modernization. A course was set for the liberalization of the political system in the country. This article presents partial results of the experience of conducting a study into the recent elections of local heads. The methodology of the study is described, and there are answers to some hypotheses presented. The assessment of the socio-economic situation of the objects of research- settlements is presented. The article considers electoral behavior, communication of the authorities with the population and the effectiveness of the reform. The theoretical significance of this study consists in the study and identification of factors related to electoral issues. The practical significance lies in the development and application of the questionnaire, in the pre-electoral and post-electoral period in the subsequent direct elections of heads of local executive authorities. The information obtained can be used for further study of the problematic issue, both for the areas under consideration and in similar types. The article examines the theoretical aspects of elections in general, and in particular, of local executive bodies. The research of electoral behavior in the perspective of transition into democracy, the interaction of "power and society" are considered. Some problems of personnel management, economic management and budgeting are raised.

In the 21st century, terrorism has become a global problem and one of the main factor in world politics at all levels. Cyclical economic and financial crises have a detrimental effect on the state of the social sphere in all countries without exception, thereby creating fertile ground for radical sentiments and terrorist intentions. The growth of geopolitical tension in the world over the past decades has also contributed to the expansion of the activity of terrorist groups around the globe. This article through SWOT analysis attempts to study the state of the EU's fight against terrorism. The threat of terrorism and its most severe manifestations also affected the countries of the European Union, which prompted it to develop a specific policy in the fight against terrorism and improve methods for preventing and neutralizing the terrorist threat. When analyzing the development process of anti-terrorist structures and the practice of combating terrorism in the European Union in 2001-2020, one can distinguish undoubted achievements of the anti-terrorist course. The weaknesses and objective shortcomings of this course stem from the complexities in world politics and macroeconomics, as well as from the very nature of the EU as a supranational structure.

This article discusses the intellectual migration of Kazakhstanis who completed their studies at foreign universities. Based on the results of in-depth interviews with 22 Kazakh graduates of foreign universities living abroad, the motives and reasons for their moving to other countries are analyzed, the process of transforming educational migration into intellectual migration is studied, and the factors affecting the willingness of Kazakhstanis to return to their homeland are considered. The results of the study showed that the main reasons for migrating abroad are: family circumstances, the possibility of fully applying competencies and acquired knowledge, gaining professional experience, as well as a high level of economic development, comfort and security, transparency in employment process and satisfactory wages in recipient countries. Meanwhile, according to the study, the factors that push out highly qualified specialists from Kazakhstan are: lack of career prospects, low wages, disagreement with the current political system and climatic conditions.

The article comprehensively examines the rise of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan. The reasons for the appearance of the Taliban are explained, as well as the legitimacy of support by the Afghan people. In addition, the reasons for the inability of NATO troops to fully stabilize the situation in Afghanistan were discussed. The difficulties of international recognition of the current Taliban government are emphasized. The authors of the article sought to speculate about the prospects for the further development of Afghanistan's relations with the neighboring countries of Central Asia after the movement, recognized by the international community as a terrorist organization, came to power. Considering the difficult geopolitical situation in the post-Soviet space, the possibility of changing the political position of the world's major powers on Afghanistan is being studied.