Local self-governance as a social determinant for the formation of civil society

Abstract

  This article examines the idea of the modern model of local self-governance as a social determinant for the formation of civil society. It is noted that currently the local self-governance experiences a political and social absenteeism reflected in apathy and inaction of the society, established as a result of the lack of confidence in any authority and skepticism towards possibility of influence its decisions. The author underlines that system modernization aimed at the formation of civil society is possible only within the new philosophical context, occurring from acknowledgement of the need for coordinated interaction between the government and population. The article explores the historical and social peculiarities of establishment of the local self-governance in Russia, as well as provides a comparative analysis of the Western and Eastern models. The focus of attention on the presented by the author conceptual grounds of building a model of local self-governance would allow avoiding “groping” searching the ways and effective methods for transformation of Russia, as well as erect the barrier to mass social reforms and change, which aggravate the negative social consequences. Only then the effective local self-government as a determinant for formation of civil society is possible.