SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY OF DEVELOPING MICROLOCAL MODES OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SUBJECTS AND URBAN STAKEHOLDERS

Abstract

The contradicting conditions of the local self-government existence in modern Russia provide for actual search for the efficient tools for the civil society involvement in the urban development management. The purpose of the article is to introduce a social technology developed and tested in the course of designing Ekaterinburg microdistricts development programs, aimed at improving interaction processes between the municipal authorities and urban stakeholders.

The given technology is based on the author’s concept of ”microlocal urban modes”, that is, modes of interaction between district administrations and intracity territories residents (organizations and population). The novelty of the proposed social technology is in building consecutive multi-level communications  with consideration for the diagnostic screening of the urban microdistricts environment quality, together with a communication space arrangement for the authorities and urban stakeholders interaction, not only citywide but also at local microlevel.

Following the results of the social technology evaluation, its key principles have been formulated: 1) integration of the results of empirical diagnostics and multi-subject ”coordinating” communications aimed at developing programs to improve the urban microdistricts environment quality; 2) organization of the city actors interaction in a multi-level communication space, involving direct and reverse communications between the city administration, district administrations, researchers, experts and local residents;

3) using a set of interrelated procedures providing for informed decision-making, considering objective and subjective information on the urban environment quality, and involving the post-diagnostic comparative analysis and discussion of microdistricts environmental profiles; 4) combining traditional research functions (diagnostic, analytical) with moderator, consultative, project functions, allowing for the ”activist- transformative” strategy implementation for the research group participation; 5) interaction participants self-training, which contributes to the mutual awareness growth.

The conclusion is made that ”cultivation” of the microlocal modes of city actors interaction regarding the local territories environment quality improvement will contribute to the intensification of processes of various public groups involvement in solving problems at the city level.

FUNDING: Acknowledgments: the article is supported by the Council on grants of the President of the Russian Federation (project NSh-1327.2022.2)