The pre-Hispanic history of Mexican California. The road to Mesoamerica that was never completed

The article is devoted to the study of the oldest cultures of the California Peninsula. The analysis is based on the study of archaeological monuments of material and spiritual culture, reflected in rock paintings, petroglyphs and geoglyphs. The first traces of settlers in the territory of Mexican California are about 14,000 years old (Clovis culture) and are associated with Aridoamerica. Cultures have been coming in from the north continuously, although their sequence has yet to be determined. A culture of nomadic and semi-nomadic groups (the conchero camp culture) was formed here, collecting shellfish, plants and fruits, coastal fishing, and hunting marine and terrestrial mammals. The geographical isolation of the peninsula did not allow the establishment of links between Californians and Mesoamerican cultural areas.

A new book on China's relations with Latin America and the Caribbean

The author reviews a collective monograph on the pages of which international experts analyze the main aspects and principles of China's relationship with Latin and Caribbean America today, right up to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The chapters of the book cover most of the countries in the region, and the subject of the study is both bilateral and multilateral interaction.

Pandemic year in Spain. Political outcome

Despite well-founded doubts about the viability of the coalition (which had insufficient support of the deputies for the adoption of important laws), a well-built strategy of political communication during the pandemic allowed the cabinet of ministers not only to withstand, but also to strengthen its positions. Over the past year, a number of strategically important decisions, both from a political and image point of view, have been adopted. The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the legislative process. The solution to the Catalan problem faded into the background. In part, this was due to the need for early parliamentary elections in the region and the alleged regrouping of political forces. The revealed facts of possible financial abuse of the honorary king hurt the image of the Crown, but the measures taken today to restore prestige are bearing fruit. Among the electoral trends noted, it is worth highlighting the strengthening of positions of socialists and rightwing populists (especially following the results of early regional elections in Catalonia), as well as a decline in support for left-wing populism. Ciudadanos' position remains unstable: on the one hand, it managed to slightly regain its position in early 2020, but further growth in support stalled, and poor results in the Catalan elections once again raised the question of whether the party has a future. Conservatives, by contrast, have established themselves as the leader of the bloc. Having lost a share of supporters at the beginning of the study period, they tried with all their might to restore the balance, periodically changing the strategy of actions.

Venezuela through the Prism of Pan-Germanism: Towards Understanding the Venezuelan Crisis (1902-1903) in German Society

The article deals with the formation of German colonial ideology in South America. The example of Venezuela is used to study the "discovery" of South America by German society in the late 19th — early 20th centuries, as well as the controversial policy of establishing Germany on the other side of the Atlantic. Germany's participation in the Venezuelan crisis (1902-1903) demonstrates the split in German society between the government and the nationalist-minded part of society, the manipulation of whose consciousness becomes a means of non-political influence for the Pan-German league (Alldeutscher Verband). The Venezuelan crisis, as part of the local diplomatic crises on the eve of the First World War, demonstrates the interest of the German government in the new status of a "world power", although national identity is now formed by German nationalists. Since there is no unity between official Berlin and the public in understanding the essence of colonialism, a paradox arises, which has become the subject of scientific study relatively recently. The article also problematizes one of the classic theses of imperialist theory the economic expansion is followed by territorial claims.

The influence of the regional culture of Argentina in the 30—60s of the twentieth century on nationwide artistic culture and arts

The history of art in Argentina in the XX-XXI centuries is studied mainly in three directions: the genre system, the spiritual and content aspect of works and creative biographies of outstanding masters. Special attention is paid to the links between the art of the Old and New World. Nowadays, the issue of connecting the artistic culture of the regions of Argentina — the center of the country, the northeast, and the northwest - is becoming urgent. The provinces not only perceived the trends of the capital's cultural policy, but also built their own cultural institutions that contributed to the creation and translation of the meanings of works about the uniqueness of human and nature connections far from Buenos Aires, and what is especially significant - about the diversity of ethnic types and characters. Such outstanding masters as Lino Enea Spilimbergo, Antonio Berni, Raul Monsegur, Eddie Torre taught in provincial art schools. They moved quite often from city to city, from province to province. We can assume that in the 40-50s of the XX century. in Cordoba, Mendoza, Tucuman and Resistencia, there were already professionals in all kinds of art. Argentine domestic scientists began to study these processes not so long ago. In this article, special attention is paid to the analysis of cultural heritage and the museum collection of the association El Fogón de los Arrieros (EFA, "Hearth of teamsters", hereinafter - Fogón), located in Resistencia, the capital of the province of Chaco, now known in the country as the City of Sculptures. Fogón became famous for its diverse cultural, educational activities, which began in 1943 and continues to this day. In the history of Fogón, a new type of educator has developed in the person of Aldo Boletti, Juan de Dios Mena, Hilda Torres Varela. The study used the historical and typological method and the method of art criticism analysis.

Brazilian historiography on the participation of the USSR in the Second World War

The article deals with the evolution of views of the Brazilian authors on the role, played by the Soviet Union in the WWII and its contribution to the victory of the anti-Hitlerian coalition. It contains a historiographical review of the works, written by the Brazilian authors on the theme, beginning from 2004. One follows the process of their growing interest towards clarifying the real contribution of the Soviet part to the common victory, along with the rise of the international authority of Brazil and strengthening of the Russo – Brazilian ties. One reveals the modern attitude of Brazilian authors towards such dubious or scarcely known themes as the Molotov – Ribbentrop pact, the battles for Smolensk and Rhzev, town–bound fights in Stalingrad, liberation of the Baltic republics, the Soviet war with Japan, etc. The author comes to conclusion, that in spite of the Western efforts to infuse the people`s conscience with the elements of the “post – truth” in this respect, the correct treatment of those events acquires priority even in such a far off from Russia state, as Brazil.