Abstract

The paper presents the general characteristics of public diplomacy and independent expert appraisal and describes the concepts’ interconnections which is extremely important for further research. The conclusion was drawn with consideration of comprehension and application of the soft power theory in Russia. It states that the development of the civil society institutes remains a state initiative. On the one hand, this assumption contradicts the idea of cooperative effort, on the other hand, the state creates artificial conditions for stimulation of the civil institutions which is logical considering the insufficient development of the civil society.