УЧАСТИЕ ГРАЖДАН В ПРИНЯТИИ РЕШЕНИЙ: МЕХАНИЗМЫ, ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ И ВЛИЯНИЕ НА ЛЕГИТИМНОСТЬ ЛОКАЛЬНОГО СОЦИАЛЬНОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ

Abstract

In the context of modern democratic development, citizens' expectations for direct participation in governance processes are constantly growing, especially at the local level, where decisions have the most direct and tangible impact on the daily lives of communities. However, this demand is met with persistent systemic bureaucratic barriers, administrative inertia, and a frequently formalistic approach to public engagement procedures, which hinders the development of genuine participation. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of civic participation, examining its historical evolution from ancient poleis with direct democracy to modern representative systems and the subsequent rethinking of the role of participation.

The article aims to answer key questions: which civic participation mechanisms are most effective in the context of local social governance, and how does the degree of citizen engagement influence the legitimacy of municipal decisions? The current state of civic participation is examined both globally and in Russia, where both positive shifts and persistent problems associated with the formalism of public hearings, the variable effectiveness of public councils, and the general inertia of the administrative apparatus are noted.

Bureaucratic barriers and lack of political will are identified as the main obstacles. Specific recommendations are offered for institutionalizing transparency, expanding the powers of local governments, scaling up participatory budgeting, and developing the competencies of both citizens and officials.