The author analyzes separatist trends exacerbation in contemporary Russia which has artificial character. This phenomenon is caused by various reasons including «export» of Chechen terrorism into Ingushetia, Dagestan and other North Caucasus regions. The author points at new destabilization of the Volga region, at escalation of the «Russian issue» in regions inclined to separatism (including Stavropol and Kuban regions), at official proposals of the Siberian and Ural authorities on long-term lease of territories to China in context of consequences delivered. The author supposes the coincidence of the Russian process and intensification of global trend to development of regionalism which is the integral part of global and supranational separatism European projects. Interest the West expresses to development of regionalism and overt separatism in Russia manifests itself in different forms. These forms include international pressure on Russia which faces the demand «to expand rights of regions and ethnic communities», and the forthright support of separatism, and imposition of alien doctrines of regional development, and European integration programs extrapolation on the Russian territory. Use of separatist ideas within framework of major political campaigns becomes a new phenomenon. According to the author, the possible support of decentralization doctrine by the central authorities under urgent social and economic trends is the greatest danger. The announced in early 2008 course line towards the full-fledged economic independence of regions is considered in this light.

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the European ideology of Valery Giscard d’Esteing — ex-president of France and the creator of the European constitution, the first one in history. The question of its acceptance is now on the present-day agenda of the EU countries. The author examines the problem of the leadership in Europe and the closest targets of the European foreign policy. He makes an analysis of the variants Giscard d’Esteing suggested for realizing economical, war-protective and political unions in Europe. One of the important themes is the problem of federal or confederative arrangement of the future integration system. Besides the author analyzes the projects of possible configuration of the European area (creating of the «solid base» of European states, of the «Europe form Atlantic to the Ural mountains» etc.)