The human dimension of successful development of territorial communities

One of the unconditional achievements of the last decade can be considered the reform of the local self-government. It begot the creation of the united territorial communities (UTC), the consolidation of districts and a significant redistribution of finances and powers from the center to the local level. The article offers an attentive look at what Ukrainian citizens need to know in order for making their communities wealthy. Communities have new opportunities to transform them into comfortable areas for living, educating children, and conducting various business activities. At the same time, it is emphasized that the successful development of communities will not depend on the availability of natural resources or large state or international assistance. The determining factor is how effectively the local government together with the community will be able to run their joint household, attract investment, use available funds and resources efficiently, develop infrastructure and attract new, educated, enterprising citizens to their permanent residence, and thus increase the number of population and improve its demographic structure. According to the author, community representatives need to get rid of the belief that the elected government knows everything and is able to solve all local problems without their participation. Because the more centralized a territorial community is, the more diverse tasks it faces, the more difficult it is for the head to oversee and maintain its successful functioning, avoiding excessive centralization and bureaucratization. In this context, Ukrainian territorial communities should pay attention to the communities of Switzerland and Iceland with their centuries-old experience of functioning instruments of direct democracy and direct involvement of residents in the decision-making process at the basic and national levels.