ETYMOLOGY OF THE CONCEPT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of the institution of local self-government in Ukraine, in particular its etymology, historical origins, and legal foundations. It reveals the peculiarities of self-government traditions during the period of Kiev Rus, when the veche (people’s assembly) first appeared as a form of popular government, and highlights the changes that took place during this period under the influence of centralization of power. Particular attention is paid to the period of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, when Ukrainian cities received Magdeburg rights, which became an important stage in the formation of local community autonomy and the development of democratic principles of self-government.

Magdeburg law enshrined the autonomy of cities in administrative, economic, and judicial matters, contributing to the development of local communities and laying the foundations for the European model of governance. The significance of this law for the establishment of a system of self-government in Ukrainian cities such as Lviv, Kyiv, Lutsk, and Kamianets-Podilskyi, and its impact on the strengthening of local identity are examined. The work also considers the decline of self-government during the Russian Empire, in particular the restrictions on the autonomy of zemstvos and the centralization of government.

The consequences of Soviet centralization, which effectively eliminated local self-government by subordinating it to party bodies, are examined. Particular attention is paid to the restoration of local self-government in independent Ukraine, beginning in 1991, when the basic principles of this institution were enshrined in law. The influence of the adoption of the 1996 Constitution of Ukraine and the 1997 Law «On Local Self-Government in Ukraine» on the development of the modern system of self-government is analyzed.

The decentralization reform launched in 2014, which significantly changed the administrative-territorial structure of the country, contributed to the unification of territorial communities, expanded their powers, and strengthened their financial capacity, is considered separately.

The impact on the understanding of local self-government in Ukraine of the consequences of military challenges, related legislative changes, and the implementation of the Council of Europe’s recommendations on expanding citizens’ rights at the local level are analyzed.

It is concluded that the institution of local self-government in Ukraine has deep historical roots, which were formed under the influence of European traditions and local characteristics. Modern local self-government in Ukraine is a key element of a democratic society, an instrument of decentralization, and a platform for the development of civil society.