P. A. Sorokin’s concept of congeniality is presented in the article. This outstanding sociologist believed that after the end of World War II Kant’s idea of eternal peace was no longer utopian. It seemed possible to Sorokin to bring this dream to life. Sorokin saw congeniality as a crucial social factor of a lasting peace and friendship between peoples and countries. He carried out a large-scale comparative study of the USA and Russia and came to the conclusion that these countries are very much alike (they are congenial), thus they would play a leading role in establishing and ensuring peace worldwide. Is it really possible to consider congeniality to be the basis of peace and friendship between peoples and countries? The aim of this article is to present a sociological and theoretical study of this problem. First, Sorokin’s methodology and key congenial characteristics of these two countries are provided in the article. Then, analytical and sociological study of these characteristics is carried out. It is shown that critical approach to Sorokin’s idea of congeniality of societies brings forward the discussion about societies and their interactions in present-day sociology and other social sciences. General scientific methods of deduction and induction as well as analysis and synthesis, document analysis method, system analysis and comparative historical method were used to study the problem presented in the article.

The article presents an analysis of the concepts of the manifestation of lies in various social interactions. The concepts of E. Goffman, C. McCornack, B. De Paulo, P. Ekman, O. Fry, V. V. Znakov and others. The reasons, features, aspects and conditions for the occurrence of lies are indicated. It is shown that the occurrence of lies is due to the influence of the surrounding social context. Particular attention is paid to the definition of types of lies. The main factors influencing the formation of various types of lies are emphasized. Attention is focused on the results of the attitude towards lies of participants in business communications. Conclusions are drawn about the variability of the manifestation of lies.

The article is devoted to the study of theoretical and practical aspects of Social Media Marketing (SMM) as a method of promoting a product or service in social networks and the possibility of influencing the consciousness of society. Specific characteristics of Social Media Marketing are revealed, the results of sociological research on the stated topics are presented and analyzed. The indicators of SMM efficiency assessment are characterized.

The article raises the problem of the embeddedness of institutionalized norms and rules in the everyday life of the urban population. Norms and rules are considered as normative dimensions of a multidimensional urban social space. The normative framework of various spheres of everyday life of the population — family, housing, labor, consumption and leisure — is considered. The ratio of acceptance/non-acceptance of norms, on the one hand, and following them/bypassing them, on the other, is considered from the point of view of a situationist approach. Estimates of the spread of such forms of routine bypassing of institutionalized norms as civil marriages, residence outside the place of registration and informal employment are given.

The use of ICT is a promising approach to social adaptation of people with disabilities. However, its potential is limited both by institutional barriers and by the low level of readiness of patients. Mobile applications combine ease of development, versatility and accessibility, and are thus potentially able to boost the ICT adoption in social work. The article describes the results of a sociological study of people with disabilities, aimed at assessing the possibilities of using applications for social adaptation. The study was carried out by the method of a sociological survey using a combined technique of personal interviews and an online survey among people with different types of health limitations (N = 197). The results showed that among the respondents there are people with both very low and very high technical, functional and psychological readiness to use mobile applications. Among those who use mobile devices, the majority uses them for the purposes of social adaptation, and positively evaluates the experience of using specialized applications. The results of the survey also help to identify the key problems faced by people with disabilities: financial problems, request for emergency assistance, receiving medical advice, etc. The results of the survey confirm the prospects of using mobile applications for social adaptation and identify the main directions for their development.

The article examines the theoretical and legal structure of workers’ control through the prism of institutions such as workers’ meetings and factory committees, trade unions and Councils that used workers’ control as the main tool in the struggle for power. The author proves that conferences of workers’ committees, charters of factory committees, circulars and instructions regulating the functionality of the meeting of workers and factory committees played a significant role in the regulatory provision of work control. Taking into account the declarative nature of the regulations on factory committees (FPC) on the part of the government, the detailing of the relationship of the FPC with the administration of enterprises took place on the basis of precedents, generalization of the practice of the activities of the FPC of large enterprises in the country and the creation of standard forms of charters and instructions for the FPC. The author focuses on the means of implementing working control, such as constant interaction with the use of verbal and documentary means, with the administration of enterprises and their obligation to investigate the violations identified, which was the beginning of systematic working control over administrative and economic activities with a set of specific control functions and tasks. In addition, the process of centralization of the activities of the Federal Labor Committee is shown, which has become the next step in strengthening and developing working control in the state. The author consistently argues the hypothesis that the enterprises actually had dual power and double subordination. In the current situation, there is a natural need for a centralized document regulating the essence and content of working control.

The article deals with the application of 3D laser scanning technologies in forensic construction and technical expertise, as well as the advantages of using this method. The analysis of the main types of laser scanning is carried out taking into account the size, complexity of the object and its technical features. Examples of effective use of 3D laser scanning in forensic construction and technical expertise are considered.

This article is devoted to the consideration of some aspects of such an institution in the criminal process of the Russian Federation, which bears the doctrinal name of a lawyer’s investigation. The views of various authors on the content of the essential aspects of the concept of a lawyer’s investigation, as well as on its possible forms of practical implementation, are analyzed. The authors of the article conclude that there are norms in Russian criminal procedure law that make it possible to conduct a lawyer’s investigation. At the same time, the lawyer’s investigation is not clearly regulated by law, even without a legally fixed name. The article emphasizes the need to clarify the legal regulation of this institution in order to increase its effectiveness and provide lawyers with opportunities for more effective protection.

The article deals with the legal aspects and problems of introducing information technologies in customs regulation. The issue of introducing modern information technologies into customs authorities, their types, as well as the impact of the development of information systems in this field of activity is considered.