Rural component of territorial communities in the context of their inclusive development

Abstract

The article deals with assessing the place of rural settlements and rural population in territorial communities (TC) - the basic link of the modern administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine and highlighting the preconditions and guidelines of inclusive development of rural population in these communities. The author reveals the factors of TC formation that determined their present composition and structure. It is noted that in their creation the decisive role was played by the important values of the projected indicators of population number and area of the "affluent" community. As a result, more than 2/3 of rural settlements and 61% of the rural population joined the TCs with centers in urban settlements (towns and urban-type settlements). Many urban and semi-urban TCs unite too many villages, which gives reason to question their belonging to urban territorial units, and no other types. Using methodological approaches to the identification of rural areas in the EU, the author compiles a classification of Ukrainian territorial communities on a functional (rather than administrative) basis. In terms of population density, the author separates communities with urban and rural population, and in terms of the share of rural residents in the TC's total population – those with predominantly urban, mixed (urban-rural) and predominantly rural nature of their territories. The distribution of rural settlements and rural population by these types of communities is carried out. In terms of both indicators, the absolute majority of TCs are communities with rural, or mostly rural and rural-urban functional type of territories. The author emphasizes that territorial communities have the main responsibility for the development of their territories and, consequently, for the inclusive development of their rural communities, and that the authorities should assist them in promoting such development by implementing various public policies, especially agricultural and regional ones. This includes, first of all, intensifying support for family and commercial farms, especially in small and peripheral villages, improving rural infrastructure, as well as unbundling TCs with a very large number of rural settlements and assisting new communities in their independent functioning.