MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AS A TOOL FOR MANAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AND URBAN-RURAL COMMUNES IN THE PERIPHERAL REGIONS OF EASTERN POLAND

Abstract

The purpose of the work was to assess the suitability of the commune’s development strategy as a tool for managing the development of rural and urban-rural communes in the eastern peripheral regions of Poland and to determine the conditions conducive to increasing this usefulness. The work involved methods of: literature, statistical analysis and the method of a diagnostic survey using an interview questionnaire addressed to 233 representatives of rural and urban-rural communes in the Lublin, Podlaskie and Holy Cross Provinces. A moderately positive assessment of local government authorities regarding the suitability of the commune development strategy as a development management tool was indicated. It has been shown that local development strategies are an insufficiently used tool for managing the development of rural and urban-rural communes in the eastern peripheral regions of Poland. Higher assessment of the usefulness of strategies in local development management was indicated in the communes, where the process of strategy’s development and implementation was socialized. It is postulated to socialize the strategy as a condition for increasing its usefulness in managing local development and the efficiency of self-government.