Modern problems of science and education. Integration links in learning See what "integration" is in other dictionaries

economic, the latest form of internationalization of economic life, expressed under capitalism in the form of an organic combination of two factors - the interweaving of private monopolies of different countries and the pursuit of a coordinated state-monopoly policy in mutual economic relations and in relations with third countries. I. is an objective process due to the development of productive forces, one of the directions of the internationalization of the economy, as a result of the development of productive forces. “... The entire economic, political and spiritual life of mankind, - wrote V. I. Lenin, - is increasingly internationalized already under capitalism. Socialism completely internationalizes it ”(Poln. Sobr. Soch., 5th ed., Vol. 23, p. 318). The deep foundation of I. is determined by the increase in the size of enterprises and their incompatibility with the limited size of domestic markets (especially small countries), the advantages of the international division of labor, and the need for its stable, regular nature.

In bourgeois political economy, the objective nature of the process of convergence is often interpreted as one of the factors in the convergence of socialism and capitalism (see Convergence theory). This interpretation has no scientific basis. In reality, the integration processes taking place both in relations between socialist countries and in capitalist countries are fundamentally different in nature and act as one of the factors in the confrontation between socialism and capitalism.

Capitalist I. - interstate associations formed after World War II (1939-45) in the process of state-monopoly regulation of the economy. Capitalist imperialism in modern conditions represents a new stage of cooperation between monopolies of different countries in the process of economic expansion, in the struggle for the seizure and redistribution of sales markets. It develops in the form of regional economic blocs and groupings of states, covering separate areas of the capitalist world and being in complex antagonistic relations with each other and with its non-integrated parts. Capitalist imperialism arises on the basis of the operation of the law of uneven economic and political development of capitalism (see Law Unevenness in the Economic and Political Development of Capitalism in the Era of Imperialism (see Law of Unevenness in the Economic and Political Development of Capitalism)). One of the sides of the operation of this law is expressed in the fact that, all other things being equal, imperialist countries with a large population have advantages associated with a larger capacity of the internal market, which contributes to the optimality of enterprises and their greater competitiveness. In this regard, the monopolies of the countries of Western Europe were in a worse position in comparison with the North American ones. Here, the need to expand markets beyond the national borders, generated by the transition to mass and large-scale production, and the elimination of national economic barriers that hinder the formation of large economic complexes, was felt with particular force. The most important factor that assisted I. All this determined the special role of Western Europe as the homeland and main arena of India. The first practical step of India was the creation in 1951 by France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg of the European Coal and Steel Community. the second decisive step is the conclusion in 1957 of the Rome Treaty on the formation by the same countries of the European Economic Community (see European Economic Community) (EEC) - the "Common Market" and at the same time the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Although the Treaty of Rome was drawn up under the motto of "liberalizing" the economic relations of the member states, the goal of the EEC is not to weaken government interference in economic life, but to attempt to transform this intervention through a combination of national and supranational means of regulating the economy.

From the very beginning, India followed the path of collective autarkism — the creation of closed economic blocs as new forms of struggle for the division and redistribution of markets. In 1960, in opposition to the EEC, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was created under the auspices of Great Britain.

Western European imperialism contributed to the strengthening of international economic ties between the countries of imperialism, both as a whole and within integration associations. With the intensive growth of the volume of foreign trade as a whole, the share of mutual trade of the EEC countries increased by the beginning of 1970 more than 6.3 times compared with 1958. On the basis of the expansion of markets, the centralization of production and capital intensified, which, in turn, pushed the migration of capital both within EEC, and especially from third countries, primarily from the United States. The emergence of state integration groupings contributed to the further development of private export of capital from some imperialist countries to others (for example, from the USA to Canada, Australia, etc.), the rapid growth of inter- and multinational companies (see Capital export), as one of the important elements of the integration process.

At the same time, in the course of capitalist ideology, old contradictions become more acute and new ones arise. Since the interests of the monopolies of individual countries quite often run counter to the program of economic indus- The lack of progress in this area reflects the incompatibility of the interests of the participating countries in many directions. The contradictions between the EEC and EFTA are even more obvious. Relations between the United States and the EEC are characterized by constant attempts by American monopolies to penetrate the expanded European capital market and overcome the common customs wall created by the EEC against third countries. In these attempts, the role of the vanguard of the United States is played by Great Britain, which, together with Denmark and Ireland since January 1, 1973, is a member of the EEC, which was opposed by some EEC member countries, whose ruling circles feared a violation of the existing balance of power to the detriment of their interests. Deep contradictions of interests both between integration groupings and countries outside them, and within the integration groupings were revealed in connection with the deepening currency crisis of 1970-72.

Western European imperialism has accelerated integration trends in some other parts of the capitalist world, especially in developing countries, where there are a number of groupings that are outwardly similar to Western European ones. These are: in Latin America, the Central American Common Market [(CAD) Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador (since 1960), Costa Rica (since 1962)], Latin American Free Trade Association [(LAST) Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Paraguay , Peru, Uruguay (since 1960), Ecuador and Colombia (since 1961), Venezuela (since 1966), Bolivia (since 1967)]. In Africa in 1965 at a conference of West African countries - Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo - it was decided to create an intergovernmental organization to coordinate economic development. In 1966, an agreement on the Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa entered into force (Cameroon, People's Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, and Gabon). In 1965, an agreement on the Arab common market came into force (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, YAR, etc.). In June 1967, an agreement was signed to form the East African Community (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda). The direction and activity of all these and other similar organizations to an enormous extent depends on the correlation of social, class and political forces both within the respective countries and on an international scale. Although some of these associations are temporarily dominated by pro-imperialist, neo-colonialist forces, on the whole their emergence is a progressive fact.

Lit .: International meeting of communist and workers' parties. Documents and materials, M., 1969, p. 285-330; On imperialist integration in Western Europe ("Common Market"). Theses of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, "World Economy and International Relations", 1962, No. 9 (appendix); Western Europe: workers against monopolies, M., 1965; Economic groupings in Western Europe, M., 1969; Political Economy of Modern Monopoly Capitalism, vol. 2, M., 1970; Maksimova M. M., Basic problems of imperialist integration, M., 1971; Alampiev P. M., Bogomolov O. T., Shiryaev Yu. S., Economic integration - an objective need for the development of world socialism, M., 1971; Inozemtsev N.N., Modern capitalism: new phenomena and contradictions, M., 1972, p. 95-134.

Ya.A. Pevzner.

the process of ordering, coordination and unification of structures and functions in an integral organism, characteristic of living systems at each of the levels of their organization. The concept of "I." introduced by the English scientist G. Spencer (1857), linking it with differentiation (See Differentiation) tissues in the process of evolution and specialization of functions of initially homogeneous, diffusely reacting living matter. Examples of I. at the molecular level of organization: I. amino acids in a complex protein molecule, I. nucleotides in a nucleic acid molecule; at the cellular level - the design of the cell nucleus, self-reproduction of cells as a whole. In a multicellular organism, I. reaches a higher level, expressed in the processes of its ontogenesis; at the same time, the interrelation of parts and functions of the organism increases with progressive evolution; the system of correlations becomes more complicated, regulatory mechanisms are created that ensure the stability and integrity of the developing organism. At the level of communities — populations, species, and biocenoses — I. manifests itself in the complex and interdependent evolution of these biological systems. The degree of I. can serve as an indicator of the level of progressive development of any living system.

In physiology, I. is the functional combination of particular physiological mechanisms into a complexly coordinated adaptive activity of the whole organism. The elementary unit of I. is a functional system, a dynamic association of central-peripheral formations that ensures self-regulation of a specific function. The principles of physiological I. were revealed (1906) by the English physiologist C. Sherrington, using the example of the coordination of reflex activity of the spinal cord (convergence, reciprocity, a common final path, etc.). These principles operate at all levels of the nervous system, including the cerebral cortex. The highest manifestation of physiological I. is a conditioned reflex, in which mental, somatic, and vegetative components are combined in the implementation of the integral adaptive activity of the organism.

Lit .: Shmalgauzen II, Integration of biological systems and their self-regulation, “Byull. Moscow Society of Naturalists. Department of biological ", 1961, vol. 66, v. 2, p. 104-34; Anokhin P.K., Biology and neurophysiology of the conditioned reflex, M., 1968.

I.V. Orlov, A.V. Yablokov.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M .: Soviet encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

Antonyms:

See what "Integration" is in other dictionaries:

Cultural condition int. integrity of culture and consistency between diff. its elements, as well as the process, by means of which such mutual agreement is. The term "Ik", used mainly in the Amer. cultural ... ... Encyclopedia of Cultural Studies

Integration: Wiktionary has an article "integration" Integration rallying, uniting political, economic, th ... Wikipedia

- (lat.). The combination into a single whole of what previously existed in a dispersed form, followed by differentiation, that is, a gradual increase in the difference between the initially homogeneous parts. From integration accompanied by differentiation ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

- (from lat. integer whole) the unification of economic entities, the deepening of their interaction, the development of ties between them. Economic integration takes place both at the level of national economies of entire countries, and between enterprises, firms, ... ... Economic Dictionary

- (lat. integratio restoration, replenishment, from integer whole), the side of the development process associated with the unification of previously dissimilar parts and elements into a whole. I. processes can take place both within the framework of an already established system in this ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia

integration- and, w. intégration f. , lat. integratio. 1. Combining what l. parts. ALS 1. The process of integration and disengagement. OZ 1873 2 2 232. How strong are the foundations on which the integration of the community was carried out earlier. OZ 1878 5 1 120. 2. ... ... Historical Dictionary of Russian Gallicisms

- (Latin integratio restoration, replenishment, from integer whole), a concept that means the state of connectivity of separate differentiable parts and functions of the system into a whole, as well as the process leading to such a state (for example, integration in science ... Modern encyclopedia

Integration, unification, connection, merging; merging Dictionary of Russian synonyms. integration see association 3 Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M .: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova ... Synonym dictionary

Translated from Latin, "integration" means fusion, the connection of separate parts into a whole, common, unified. The general definition of the term can be formulated as the union, convergence or merging of parts, forming a common, unified whole, but at the same time preserving its identity.

Countries can move closer together, while forming various alliances, for example, trade, economic, political, cultural, and so on, thereby preserving their national identity. The main goal of integration can be called the expansion of the volume of goods and services that are based on effective support of activities, for example, integration processes in trade.

Integration also includes phenomena in different spheres of society and state life: political, cultural, economic and others. Integration processes in the modern world are examples of movement, the development of a certain system, in which the connection between the participants becomes stronger, and their independence decreases, new forms of interaction begin to appear. Both earlier and now, in the era of modern technologies, integration processes are accompanied by significant progress in science, economics, culture and even politics.

The development of such processes in the modern world at the micro and macro levels is the most important sign of integration. At the micro level, integration occurs through the interaction of funds of individual companies and enterprises through the formation of economic agreements, transactions and contracts between them, through the creation of branches in other countries. Integration processes can also be created in other spheres besides the economic one. At the macro level, integration is of a global scale and regional. It is based on the development of the world market, production and communications.

In the modern world in the economic sphere, there are several types of integration processes. One of the simplest forms is a zone. In such a zone, various trade restrictions between the countries participating in the union are canceled, and trade duties are also removed. The second form can be called a customs union. In addition to the zone, it also establishes a foreign trade tariff, the same for all, and is carried out in relation to other countries.

The third, more complex form of the integration process, it provides the members of the union and free mutual trade, and a single foreign trade tariff, freedom of movement and, accordingly, capital, as well as the coordination of economic policy. And, finally, the highest form of interstate integration in the field of economics is an economic and monetary union, which combines all the above forms of integration. At this stage, political integration with its own unified governing bodies appears.

Along with the integration processes, special associations are also emerging, a feature of which is their successful development at the level of regional significance.

Turovets D.G.

The article examines and analyzes the essence of "integration", "integration ties" in the food industry. The key problems faced by the enterprises of the region are highlighted. The author's scheme of integration links, a flexible integrated structure (which reflects the degree of their interaction) is presented for use in practice, the main conclusions of the study are formulated. Key words: integration links, food industry, food industry cluster.

The food industry, as shown by world and domestic practice, is one of the priority sectors of the national economy. Its successful development is the "first step" towards increasing the country's food security, raising the level and quality of life of the population. On the contrary, its weakening in terms of a decrease in the main socio-economic indicators can create a real threat to the working capacity of the economically active population, since the level of labor productivity directly depends on the full provision of the population with high-quality and affordable food.

Today the food industry market in Russia is one of the most intensively developing and highly competitive ones. There is strong competition for the consumer, due to the rapid development of the global food industry, the constant emergence of new production and marketing technologies. To remain competitive, a manufacturer is forced to engage in an “innovation race”, regularly reviewing its product portfolio and launching new ideas on the market.

Integration links in the food industry are a key element of competitiveness, and therefore must be established correctly. The formation of integrated structures in the food industry (integration links are developed specifically for the purpose of the subsequent construction of integrated structures and their implementation in practice) is the basis for the exit of food industry enterprises from the crisis that has emerged over the past decade.

In connection with the need to improve the efficiency of economic, industrial and other activities of food industry enterprises, there is a growing need for restructuring, enlarging the business, and, as a result, building special integrated structures, defining integration links between them. One of the ways to solve the problem of the competitiveness of the food industry in the region should be a systematic approach to the development of an integral system for building integration ties at food industry enterprises. In one of the reports on the development of the industry under consideration, E. Akbulatov at the annual meeting dedicated to the development of industries in the region, noted that agro-industrial integration, cooperation and integration ties between enterprises will contribute to an increase and increase in the volume of output in the region.

The rapid, and at the same time dynamic, progressive development of the economy necessitates the development of a universal approach to the competitiveness of food industry enterprises on the basis of integration ties. Integration ties in conjunction with the main tools for increasing competitiveness will ensure a more stable and efficient operation of enterprises in dynamics.

The growing importance of interaction between enterprises in modern conditions leads to the need for a deeper study of the essence of integration. In modern literature, a significant number of scientific works are presented that give a very ambiguous interpretation of the terms "integration", "integration process", "integration ties".

Without going into a detailed analysis of the content of scientific research on this issue, we have identified key concepts. By integration, the author understands "the unification of economic entities, the deepening of their interaction, the development of ties between them."

Integration allows enterprises to achieve and maintain certain positions in the market by solving the following tasks:

• - pooling of resources - intellectual, technological, financial, marketing - to achieve a synergistic effect and diversify activities;
• - optimization of R&D costs, organization of the technological process, corporate governance, promotion and support of goods to achieve maximum savings and increase business profitability;
• - minimization of commercial risks by obtaining guaranteed access to target markets. The purpose of the integration association, as such, according to IO Sorokina, is to deepen interaction between the participants to strengthen their ties.

By "integration processes" the author understands the processes of merging assets by the subjects of market relations within the framework of a single process with or without the formation of a new company. Integration ties, in turn, are designed to establish a strong relationship between enterprises, thereby creating a powerful reserve for strengthening industrial potential, which will determine the future development of the industry.

The integration structure, in turn, can be designated as a stable group of cooperatively related participants, united on the basis of a voluntary transfer of part of their rights to one of the participants - the central (parent) company and subordination to the common interests of the integrated structure as a whole.

The principles of integration of market participants are the most general, fundamental rules and recommendations by which they should be guided in conducting joint activities. Large integrated structures, according to the author, can be organized in the form of the following companies:

• - holding companies created by adding state blocks of shares of enterprises to their authorized capital;
• - holding structures based on private and mixed (with state participation) capital and existing in the form of multilevel chains of parent companies. Their indisputable advantage lies in the extreme complexity and non-transparent organization of financial flows;

It is worth remembering that the integration process is quite laborious and requires significant costs and resources. The main condition for the revitalization of food industry enterprises can be the development of integration ties as the most important factor in stabilizing the economy. It is important to consider integration ties not only as a means of stabilizing the economic situation of a region or an individual enterprise, but also as a factor in the development of the production and sales base of an enterprise or a complex of enterprises.

After analyzing the works of leading scientists on the problem of integration, we came to the conclusion that at the moment there are three main types of it. In the field of economics, there are three main ways to build the capacity of an organization: "horizontal integration", "vertical integration", "diversification". This classification should be considered in more detail, since for the further construction of the scheme of integration links, tested at food industry enterprises, this conceptual apparatus is simply necessary.

• 1. Vertical integration - production and organizational unification, merger, cooperation, interaction of enterprises connected by common participation in the production, sale, consumption of a single final product: suppliers of materials, manufacturers of assemblies and parts, assemblers of the final product, sellers and consumers of the final product.
• 2. Horizontal integration - the unification of enterprises, the establishment of close interaction between them "horizontally", taking into account the joint activities of enterprises that produce homogeneous products and use similar technologies.
• 3. Diversification "by its nature" is based on the deliberate investment of capital in a number of functionally unrelated industries and industries.

Belyakov G.P. rightly notes that at present there are three types of integration mechanisms in Russian industry. The first type implements the control capabilities associated with the ownership of the title of property of the merged enterprises. The second type involves the levers of coordination of joint activities based on the regulation of access to individual production resources. Finally, the third type of mechanisms is based on the voluntary centralization of a group member and the transfer of a number of powers. The combination and restructuring of typical integration structures in practice "according to their needs" serves as the foundation that will contribute to the comprehensive development of the food industry.

An analysis of the problems of the formation of integration processes in the country allows us to conclude that it is necessary to use a systematic approach to developing an effective strategy to improve the main indicators of the food industry. Irreversible market processes "put pressure" on the most unprotected ("bottlenecks") places of enterprises, which are poorly prepared to make the right strategic, tactical and managerial steps and decisions. Carrying out activities together, developing according to the principle of "inter-firm partnership", enterprises will receive benefits in the form of: a) gaining experience through the mutual exchange of information, knowledge, competencies; b) equal distribution of shares in the share capital of the company; c) reducing risk and uncertainty from making (not making) appropriate decisions.

Having indicated the need for integration, building a flexible integrated structure and the subsequent establishment of integration links, the author proposes a scheme that clearly reflects the feasibility of using this tool for implementation at food industry enterprises. Its use from approbation in practice is intended to increase production efficiency due to resources attracted from outside (human, financial, informational, etc.), which should ultimately find its logical confirmation in labor productivity indicators, actual growth rates of the industry, etc.

Analysis of trends and patterns of development of the analyzed industry clearly showed that the activities of enterprises (OJSC Milko, KPK Food Company, OJSC Krasnoyarsk Bread, OJSC Siberian Gubernia, etc.), although not unprofitable, in full is not effective. There are practically no own manufacturing facilities in the region. The level of production facilities, their technical equipment does not meet the established standards. Everywhere you can observe the excess of the share of imports in the gross industrial output. The degree of interaction of enterprises with each other is poorly established, integration ties at most enterprises are weakly expressed. Coordinated and coordinated work is needed to better manage the food industry.

Optimizing the activities of food industry enterprises is the key to increasing the competitiveness of the food industry, subject to a number of conditions:

• - orientation of production to the production of different types of food (infant formula, deep processing of raw materials, reduction of the duration of the "production cycle", optimization of sales and procurement activities; improvement of the management and control procedures for supply chains in the industry (transport logistics);
• - revision and adjustment of typical "business processes" at enterprises;
• - establishment and improvement of a feedback mechanism with local governments, agriculture, wholesale and retail trade;

Rice. 1. Flexible Integrated Food Industry Framework (GIS)

Correct and effective construction of integration links, an integration chain of communication of enterprises with each other. The identified problems of the food industry require a new qualitative approach to the creation of a flexible integrated structure and the construction of integration links in the food industry. The author proposes a scheme that reflects the essence of an adaptive integrated structure for the food industry. This structure is classified by the author as universal (it can be recommended both for the food industry and others) (Fig. 1).

Having, on the one hand, a stable marketing potential (the ability to successfully supply products on the domestic market) and attracting, on the other hand, the necessary investments to expand their activities, enterprises benefit from a double. It is obvious that integration ties in this case will be aimed at establishing the degree of interaction between enterprises, increasing the overall synergetic effect from joint activities. The formation of an integration structure at a food industry enterprise of this type will make it possible to fully use the accumulated potential (including information, production, scientific, trade, financial components) and thereby contribute to the development of the food industry in the region.

The last level of GIS is of particular interest to us. Being in a single structure, the manufacturer and the distributor can jointly develop requirements for qualitatively new products, plan the production program. The transition to a flexible-centralized production management system is especially important for the competitiveness of food industry enterprises as a large holding. The author is of the following opinion: "the introduction of this integrated structure, which has, on the one hand, powerful functionality, and on the other - flexible adaptable to the needs of a particular enterprise" is the basis for the future development of food industry enterprises. "

The construction of a GIS, as already noted, determines the feasibility of using integration links in production. The efficiency of integration ties is considered the higher, the more correctly worked out the mechanism of consistency, interaction and coordination of divisions and departments in a particular enterprise. The benefits of building integration links and including them in the designated structure are shown in Fig. 2.

Integration links are designed to connect a number of key elements, the analysis of which is advisable, since the most significant indicators of the industry depend on the degree of penetration of one production area into another, on how the work of production, marketing, and sales links in the product chain is adjusted. Let us consider each of the elements in the presented diagram for their significance.

• 1. In the process of building an integration chain due to the mutual strengthening of production, an alternative to more successful management of production, marketing, sales and other potentials arises. By reducing the duplication of operations in production, enterprises gain an additional competitive advantage.
• 2. An increase in the efficiency of production management based on the interaction of services and departments within enterprises will be coordinated.
• 3. Labor productivity serves as an important lever in ensuring the competitiveness of the food industry in the region. Taking into account the experience of Western companies, it is worth striving to ensure that the share of manual labor is minimal, and, if necessary, revised taking into account the specifics of a specific product produced at the enterprise.
• 4. In the process of interaction of enterprises with each other within the same cluster (in our case, the "food industry cluster"), it is worth striving to reduce the time of production in compliance with the necessary requirements imposed on it from a technological point of view. The efficiency from cooperation of enterprises with each other can also be manifested in the distribution of risk and responsibility in the case of adopting an effective (losing) variant of the development strategy. The synergistic effect from the interaction of enterprises with each other is the higher, the lower the likelihood of new potential competitors entering the industry. The closer the enterprises are dispersed within one cluster to the leading raw material center ("food industry cluster"), the lower the costs of transportation and storage of products, and the higher the possibility of finding additional reserves and attracting resources for the development of activities.

Rice. 2. Benefits of using integration links in the food industry

5. Economic, tax, price barriers are the main key components of the development of food industry enterprises.

• 6. Flexibility and adaptability of enterprises can be achieved through the established vertically integrated industrial company with a full value chain covering all links of the product chain. For example, when producing meat products, we can carry out our activities through the production of compound feed, the release of meat products and their subsequent sale on the market.
• 7. Market conditions also affect the ability of enterprises to be, to a certain extent, competitive. Depending on the economic environment, tastes and preferences of consumers, the strategic steps taken by companies in order to retain a specific segment of the market for manufactured products depend. The purpose of the integration link in this case is to organize production and output of products in such a way that the supply fully meets the effective demand.
• 8. Over the past years, there has been a clear tendency in the food industry to switch to the use of resource-saving technologies in food production. The emphasis is on the fact that the technology should be revised, in which the raw materials remaining from the primary processing continue to work in the production cycle, and after the final stage can be used in the release of a new high-quality product. The use of so-called resource-saving technologies in its production carries one important advantage: the cost of the manufactured product is reduced, transport and operating costs are reduced. In addition, the saved accumulated funds can be used for the development of their activities.

Based on the study, the following conclusions can be formulated:

• 1. One of the obvious ways to increase the competitiveness of the industry in question, the author highlighted integration links, the introduction of a flexible universal integrated structure of industrial production management.
• 2. Building integration ties, as shown by the study, is one of the priority areas for the development of the food industry in the current environment. The creation of a single food cluster (one of the elements highlighted by the author when building integration links), uniting a group of enterprises according to a number of criteria and parameters (economic, social, etc.), is an important condition for building the potential of the food industry, bringing production and production indicators to required values, improving the quality of life, ensuring food security of the industry as a whole.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• 1. Belyakov GP Integration processes in the economy: problems, searches, solutions. Monograph / G.P.Belyakov - Moscow: MAI Publishing House; Kind word, 2003 .-- 243p.
• 2. Big economic dictionary / ed. A.N. Azrilian. - M .: Institute of New Economics, 2004, 434p.
• 3. Oksanych, N.V. Building an integrated management structure for a food holding / N.V. Oksanich // Food industry. - 2008. - No. 38. - pp. 24-27.
• 4. The program of socio-economic development of the region for 2007 - Administration of the Krasnoyarsk region. - 2007 .-- 92s.
• 5. Sorokin, I.O. Theoretical foundations of the concept of "integration" and the principles of its implementation / I. O. Sorokina // Management in Russia and abroad. - 2008. - No. 2. p. 3-6.

Bibliographic reference

Do you know how a damask blade is made? Several strips of solid steel and several strips of ductile low carbon iron were taken. They are put together, heated in a forge and begin to forge, blow welding all the strips together into one rod. Cool, reheat and forge again. After several sessions of such processing, the rod acquires completely new properties. The metal in it becomes hard, like steel and elastic, like iron, and a pattern appears on the surface of the forged blade. There were two metals, but it turned out to be one, not similar to any of the previous ones.

This is integration. Several parts unite together, and so that this new union can no longer be separated. Strong bonds were formed between the parts, they merged, became one whole, a new compound, alloy, essence, with new properties.

The word integration itself comes from the Latin word "integratio" - "connection". The mathematical term "integral" - the sum of an infinitely large number of infinitesimal quantities, also goes back to the same word.

It is essential that integration is a process. The combined parts do not remain in the same state, but begin to interact with each other, changing one another, losing their previous properties and acquiring new ones. If, after a certain time, the united parts cannot be broken by any efforts, then integration has occurred, a new entity has formed.

Integration can take place in a wide variety of areas of life, science and technology. Let's look at a few examples.

1. Economic integration is a process during which there is a convergence, mutual adaptation and merging of enterprises, industries and even national economic systems.

For example, in Europe at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, mining and processing enterprises were merged into mining and metallurgical plants. Small mines and factories merged into one enterprise with a single management and common infrastructure. This resulted in less waste and improved quality and competitiveness. At the same time, the production process at each of the combined enterprises changed so much that after several years they became completely different.

Another process taking place at the same time in the economy was the unification of industrial enterprises under the auspices of banks (the formation of industrial and financial capital). The result was powerful and aggressive monopolies that could be compared to economic dreadnoughts. Mutual mergers - which is typical - changed both the nature of production and the nature of banking.

In our time, and, one might say, before our eyes, there has been a successful integration of the economies of European states into a single European Union. This integration began after World War II and went through several stages: customs union, common market, economic and monetary union. Currently, many European enterprises are interethnic, and state borders have ceased to play an important role in economic life (and in political life too).

At the same time - and we also witnessed this - an attempt at economic and national integration within the framework of the Soviet Union ended in failure. The economy of the USSR turned out to be insufficiently integrated. The new unified community, the Soviet people, about which the communist propagandists were repeating, did not work either. Although the anthem of the USSR sang about the "Indestructible Union of the Free Republics", this union turned out to be completely "crumbling". Probably, the integration processes have not yet advanced far enough. Or maybe no real integration was carried out?

2. Social integration. This process takes place in society constantly at various levels. Entering school or work, each of us became a member of the team. If you remember your own experience, the process of joining a team is always difficult and not always pleasant.

The book Fear and Awe by Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb describes a completely unsuccessful social integration of a European girl into the Japanese workforce. The girl could not assimilate the Japanese norms of behavior, the Japanese could not (or did not want) to accept her as "their". A film has been made based on this book - I recommend watching it.

But in the novel by James Clavelle "Shogun" and in the film based on this novel, an example of a successful social integration in Japan, albeit in the 17th century, is given. The Englishman becomes the ruler of the country!

Nowadays, many are watching the Turkish TV series The Magnificent Century, which shows an example of equally successful social integration. A girl from Ukraine, Roksolana, became the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

But whether the social integration of Moor Othello in the Republic of Venice was successful, I leave it to the readers to think.

Russia is now facing the big task of social integration of the so-called guest workers from Muslim countries, the former union republics of the USSR. How this process will end - only God knows. Moreover, no work is being done in this direction "from above".

3. Integration of information. This process takes place in information systems when it becomes necessary to share information collected by different departments. When integrating information, you can merge databases or transform data "on the fly" using special programs. In any case, after a certain time, the databases, even if they still belong to different departments, are no longer possible to separate. Typically, this results in a new shared database. What's the bottom line for ordinary people? Government and industrial banking structures can get all information about us using one identification number. On the one hand - "dumb": we are all "under the hood." On the other hand, it is convenient: the number of required documents can be reduced to practically one, an identity card. No inquiries, no statements and reports!

4. And, so to speak, for sweetness, I want to note that the Top author.ru community is now also in the process of integration. A certain collective is formed from individual authors. I will not say - like-minded people, but employees. It seems to me that the integration process is not going well enough here. Perhaps this is due to the fact that there are still too few of us? Have you not accumulated, so to speak, a critical mass? Or are we not too active? Or should the administration add some new functionality to the site? Again, I invite readers to think about it.