Abstract: The subject of this article is the analysis of indicators that characterize development potential of the institution of the heads of village community (Starosta) in modern Russian municipalities. These indicators include the representations, opinions and attitudes of the residents of different types of municipalities regarding the institution of the headman. The conducted research allows determining the peculiarities of administrative and self-governing processes on the local level, as well as outline the development prospects for the Institution of the heads of village community in Russia. The object of this article is the residents of different types of municipalities in Tver Region. Using the method of structured interview the author provides the data of sociological monitoring carried out in Tver Region in the 2018-2019, as well as the results of sociological survey conducted in rural municipalities in accordance with a specifically developed toolset (2019). The article analyzes the attitude of the population of Tver Region towards implementation of post of headman (Starosta) in the rural areas; examines the awareness of rural residents on the institution of the heads of village community, their representations on the nature of social position of Starosta, legal status and social functions of the institution. The author’s special contribution consists in identification of characteristics that form social portraits of categories of citizens who gear towards the development of the institution of Starosta and participation in its functioning. The acquires results can be used by state and municipal branches aimed at engagement of population in the practices of self-governance.

Abstract: The subject of the research of this article is the analysis of models of development of local self-government in small towns of modern Russia and the identification of the self-governing potential of their residents. The study of models of the territorial organization of local self-government and methods of formation of municipal government bodies allows us to identify trends in the evolution of the local self-government system, to determine their nature. The study of the ideas of residents of Russian small towns about the models of local self-government and the attitudes of citizens to participate in solving local problems allows us to identify the socio-cultural foundations of the processes unfolding in modern municipalities. The object of the study is residents of small towns in the Tver region. The methods of document analysis, statistical data analysis, and survey methods were used. The data of sociological monitoring carried out in the Tver region in 2018-2020 by the method of formalized interviewing are presented. В  The models of the territorial organization of local self-government in small towns are investigated, the degree of prevalence of elective procedures for the formation of municipal bodies is studied. The ideas of the population of small towns about the nature of local self-government and its place in the management system of Russian society are analyzed, the attitude of citizens to various models of territorial organization of local self-government and ways of electing the head of the municipality is studied, the nature of the attitudes of citizens to participate in self-governing practices is revealed. A special contribution of the authors to the study of the topic is the analysis of the prevalence of various models of local self-government in small towns, taking into account their spatial and geographical location, resource characteristics and the level of self-governing potential of the population. The information obtained can be used by state and municipal authorities in the process of forming municipal management systems and organizing work with the population to involve them in self-governing practices.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the examination of possibilities of implementation of the electoral mechanism in the process of structuring of the municipal branches within the framework of various real and promising models of organization of the system of local self-governance, depending on the level of development of the self-governance potential of population and local territorial specificities. The object of this research is the residents of the cities, towns, and rural settlements of Tver Oblast, as well as the representatives of expert community of the region. The authors explored the attitude of respondents towards implementation of the electoral mechanism within the system of local self-governance. The article determine the level of electoral activity of population during the municipal elections, factors that affect the population, and character of citizens’ relation to municipal elections. Special attention is given to determination of the respondents’ attitude towards the models of electing the leaders of local self-governance, as well as promising models of organizing administration on the local level. The authors’ main contribution into the research of this topic consists in highlighting of the three key models of local self-governance, the application of which is possible various types of Russian territories: 1) paternalistic model; 2) model with implementation of the institution of prefects (but preserving the main elements of classical model of local self-governance); 3) classical model of local self-governance based on the activist political culture.

Abstract: The subject of this article is the examination of the real and potential socio-political activity of the Russian citizens. The authors analyze the forms of participation of the citizens in the social practices of local self-governance, as well as reveal the factors that activate and limit the participation of the population in the territorial self-governing practices. A special attention is given to the determination of social groups among the Russian local communities with the highest level of real and potential civic activity. The object of the research is the residents of the cities, townships or rural villages of Tver Oblast. The authors also present the data from sociological monitoring that was conducted in Tver region during the period of 2009-2014, using the method of formalized interviewing. This work studies the level and new forms of participation of the Russian citizens in the existing practices of local self-governance, and defines the potential readiness of the population for civil participation. The authors’ special contribution into the research of this consists in identification of the four categories of respondents: inactive, potentially active, active, and initiative citizens. The last two groups are characterized by the higher potential for self-governance and represent a possible social base and the core of initiatives of the local self-governance.