CURRENT STATE AND PROBLEMS OF CIVIC PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT: EXPERT ANALYSIS

Abstract

Research problem. The involvement of local community, including the youth, in local government can transform and enrich the process of management decision making based on various perceptions and approaches to local problem solving. Shifting the focus to those who are the target of this decision or affected by local issues can contribute to the programs and projects quality improvement, increased trust through transparency of order and procedures of the decisions made. The interaction between the local community and local authorities provides for the civic capacity development, contributes to the increased accountability in the public administration system and leads to the public confidence building. However, according to the research, young people are hardly involved in the local problem solving.
The research purpose is to explore the results of the expert assessment of the current state and problems of the youth participation in the local government, the involvement of young people in socio-political processes at municipal level.
Methodology and methods. The institutional approach makes the methodological framework of the research. The institutional foundations of the youth participation in local government and various forms of such participation are analyzed in the research. To collect empirical data, the following methods have been used: analysis of official documents, questionnaire survey of the RF youth (n = 2026 people), expert interview (30 experts: researchers, scientists, representatives of public bodies, local government, non-profit organizations, educational institutions).
Research results. Modern Russian youth, having a high level of civic participation, is poorly involved in local government. To encourage the young people’s involvement in local government, a single mechanism should be built based on the triad “informing - discussing - active participation of young people in local problem solving”. Also, it is important to create the institutional involvement environment, including structures in local governments to support projects initiated bythe youth.
Scientific novelty. The study expands understanding of the institutional foundations of the youth civic involvement in local government; facts characterizing the experience and need of civic participation of youth in local government are provided; current state and problems of youth civic participation in local government are revealed.