Practices of Public Participation in Local Self-Governance: Case Studies of Siberian Villages

Abstract

—Rural local self-governance as an independent political institution in Russia shows clear signs of degradation. Its effectiveness and efficiency have noticeably decreased over time. A reduction in the powers and financial resources of local authorities leads to destructive phenomena and processes: the condition of rural infrastructure is deteriorating, and negative demographic trends are developing. The aim of the study is to assess how the self-organization of rural residents can resist these trends, and to identify and classify the forms of proactive participation of the rural population in local self-governance. Generalization of the sociological research results using the case study method in rural settlements of Novosibirsk Oblast and Krasnoyarsk Krai has made it possible to identify the main types of formal and informal practices of participation of local residents in initiating projects for landscaping, social support, and other local issues. It is concluded that insufficient efficiency on the part of local authorities, their poor provision of resources, and unpreparedness for dialogue with the population entail the emergence of informal types of participation of residents in village life. Informal practices can foster community cohesion and contribute not only to the preservation but also to development of rural settlements. The active involvement of the rural population in various forms of participation makes it possible to partially compensate for the defects of local self-governance and counteract negative trends in the sustenance of rural settlements.