Abstract: This article presents the results of the sociological diagnosis of pathologies in the practice of public regional administration. The relevance of the research topic is due to the presence of problems in the socio-economic development of the country, largely related to the quality of the forms and methods used in management activities, both at the federal and regional levels. The tasks of pathology research in the practice of public regional management are of paramount importance, since any modification of the management system can be effective only if there is a clear understanding of the barriers preventing it from approaching the most useful state. Nevertheless, the study and implementation of the mechanism of systemic counteraction to destructive factors of regional governance remains a relatively new phenomenon in the context of the so-called transformation.
The methodological basis used is the work of researchers devoted to the study of social mechanisms; dialectical approach, the concept of technologization of management. As part of the study of the chosen topic, a methodology was developed and a sociological study was conducted using the questionnaire method - an expert survey "Analysis of factors contributing to or hindering the effective operation of public regional government." (February - March 2024). The study included a questionnaire survey of experts from four regions of the Central Federal District. (Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh and Oryol regions) and a secondary analysis of the results of sociological research.
Based on the conducted sociological diagnostics, indicators of pathologies in public regional management were identified: an incompetence-oriented system of professional development of managerial personnel; making managerial decisions for personal interest, etc. The illustration of pathology indicators in the practice of public regional management highlights the importance of developing a mechanism that promotes systemic leveling of pathologies in the management practice of public regional management.