The assessment of rural communities’ inclusiveness within territorial communities: the case of Lokachynska TC

Abstract

The decentralization reform in Ukraine has resulted in creating the primary level of the administrative-territorial system – territorial communities (TC). Rural settlements are also included in TCs, consisting of more than 25 and even 50. Today, TCs as administrative entities face the challenge of uniting communities and preserving and developing their people. The purpose of the paper is to substantiate the necessity and principles of TCs inclusive development, identify the situation of their rural communities referring to the example of Lokachynska TC, and test approaches to assessing their involvement in the functioning of the community. The following research methods were used: dialectical and abstract-logical (in the analysis of threats to rural communities due to their merger in the TC and justification of their inclusive development principles), monographic (to characterize Lokachinskaya TC), economic and statistical (in assessing the level of inclusive community development). It has been proven that one of the tasks of amalgamating territorial communities, especially those that include too many rural settlements is ensuring development based on inclusiveness. The TCs’ development and their rural communities aimed at reducing poverty, overcoming the economic, social, and political exclusion of people living in rural areas providing them with the opportunity to have a tangible impact on their lives is defined as inclusive development. The main characteristics of Lokachynska TC and the conditions of its rural communities’ functioning are revealed. Following the determining methodology of the rural sector of social inclusiveness, which is adapted to the community level, the involvement of Lokachynska TC communities in the economic, social and socio-political spheres was assessed. The study results can be used in strategies and plans for developing territorial communities, considering the specifics of community in each settlement, and identifying overcoming ways of its economic and/or social exclusion.