Conceptual problems of local government reform in Russia

Abstract

The article analyzes theoretical approaches and experience of reforming local self-government in Russia from 1991 to 2022.

The existing problems that are prerequisites for changing the legal regulation in the field of local self-government are considered. The reasons for the emergence of prerequisites for the next reform of local self-government in Russia, implemented at the initiative of the head of state in 2022, are investigated.

The author focuses on the fact that each new municipal reform is actually aimed at scrapping the system that was established as a result of the past transformations. A particularly striking indicator of this phenomenon is the "throwing" of the legislator between the model of two-tier municipalities (laws of 1991 and 2003), and the model of single-tier municipalities (the 1995 law and the 2022 bill).

According to the author, the reason for such an ambiguous state policy regarding local self-government was the lack of a long-term concept of the development and functioning of local self-government.

The draft law on local self-government, which is being considered today in the State Duma, has been developed again without relying on any specific development plan and vision of what local self-government should become, what economic, social, cultural and political results it should achieve as a result of the next reform. The article reveals the content of the author's concept of the development of local self-government, with specific directions, as well as indicators of the effectiveness of the proposed reforms.