Design features of the functioning of the regional branches of the «United Russia» party in the context of the 2021 election cycle

The article provides an analysis of the project activities of the regional branches of the «United Russia» party in the Rostov region and the Stavropol region in the 2021 electoral cycle. The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of «United Russia's» project activities on its functioning in the regions and the conceptualization of «United Russia's» image and electoral projects. The study was conducted on the materials of the 2021 elections in the Rostov region and the Stavropol region. The main research tool was the methods of applied political analysis. The results of the study: theoretical conceptualization of the image and electoral projects of «United Russia», a description of specific projects of the regional branches of «United Russia» in the electoral cycle of 2021, disclosure of the functional significance of each of the described projects. The main conclusions of the study are as follows. First, the difference between image and electoral projects lies in the goals of the projects and the periods of their implementation. Secondly, the electoral projects of «United Russia» have the potential for qualitative transformation into image projects, as an example, the project «People's Program» is given. Thirdly, image projects are often associated with the fulfillment by «United Russia» of important functions for the country's political system.