Andrey Budaev

The article deals with the characteristic features of the «soft power» in the policy of small (medium) developing states based on the example of ALBA’s countries (The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America). Analysing solid (strong) and vulnerable sides of «soft» diplomacy of the Bolivarians, the author comes to the conclusion about establishing (formation) of the ALBA’s own institutional «soft power» design which is considerably different from traditional, classic (western and alternative) standards and formats, what predetermines a thorough research and analysis of this phenomenon, including in the context of the Russian foreign policy interests.