This publication continues the series of handbooks published by RIAC.

The aim of these handbooks is to define the circle of experts and organizations that are engaged professionally in specific issues of International Relations and global politics. The publication was created in partnership with a RIAC corporate member — the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU).

The handbook includes sections on organizations and experts that specialize in military and political Issues. There are separate descriptions of analytical periodicals dealing with this Area. In view of the speed with which data on the subject covered by the handbook is updated, it is planned to produce a web-based supplement to this edition of the RIAC handbook (ir.russiancouncil.ru) which includes two sections.