INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE

Abstract

Institutions of citizen engagement are the important factor in the political development of local self-government in Ukraine. The article describes the peculiarities of the implementation and transformation of such institutions as public councils, electronic petitions, public consultations, participatory budgeting and public expertise. According to the results of surveys, one of the main problems faced by institutions of social engagement is insufficient awareness of citizens about their existence. Institutions that are more effective in attracting citizens are distinguished by their accessibility, comprehensibility for most citizens and the availability of confirmation of their effectiveness. It is these two indicators: comprehensibility (instrumentality) and efficiency that are important for citizens, who determine whether a particular institution of engagement should be used. Engagement occurs when citizens believe that they are able and willing to participate, and believe that they can get some positive result. The article describes this as the internal and external effectiveness of citizens. In the framework of the first, citizens are confident in their own competence, that is, they have confidence in themselves and their ability to understand the process and influence it. When citizens are convinced that the government will respond to their participation, this is external effectiveness. Institutes of social involvement develop both the competence of citizens and the openness and ability and readiness to respond in local self-government bodies. Keywords: civil society, social engagement, local self-government, participation, territorial community, decision-making process.