METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE STUDY OF TERRITORIAL PUBLIC SELF-GOVERNMENT

Abstract

Introduction. The activities of legislators indicate that society recognizes the local level in the public administration system as urgent special attention. It is still difficult to predict whether this will be a radical reform or an attempt to launch all existing mechanisms. Against the background of the current discussion about the non-political nature of territorial public self-government, it is necessary to justify its right to be present in the system of local government. A comprehensive analysis of this form of self-government is based on the recognition of part of the residents of the municipality as an analogue of the community. Theories of local government consider the community as the main category in local government studies.
Materials and methods. The model for analyzing territorial public self-government presented for discussion is based on a consistent synthesis of three approaches: institutional, functional and behavioral. This is due to the lack of a clear theoretical understanding of the content of various forms of local self-government (except for administrative, with the participation of local authorities); the problem of the practical implementation of the right of citizens to directly resolve issues of local importance requires new scientific data. Using methods of generalization, systemic, structural-functional, legal and comparative analysis, this form of self-organization can be considered as the main resource for revitalizing municipal public-power relations and a tool for implementing the expected local self-government reforms.
Results. The dualistic type of local self-government, the concept of which is taken as a basis in modern Russian practice, requires the institutionalization of the self-organized part of the residents of the municipality. Residents of a municipality forming two or more subsystems of interaction on issues of life are not a single community. The community is revealed in its best light within the framework of the theory of communities. The institutionalization of the community has modern practical experience, it is presented in the registration of the organizational form of territorial public self-government. Maintaining a balance of interests and effective distribution of responsibilities between the community and government authorities must be based on a clear process of determining the functions of a self-organized community.
Discussion and conclusions. The methodological foundations of local self-government and methodological recommendations for creating a workable mechanism for distributing responsibility for the quality of life will ensure the process of strengthening state power. Active political participation of citizens will increase trust in government authorities.