DECENTRALIZATION AS A HISTORICAL PHENOMENON AND PROCESS: CONCEPTUAL PROBLEMS OF THEORY AND PRACTICE
Authors:   V.M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law, Batanov Oleksandr V. 
Published: May 2022

The article is devoted to the study and analysis of the evolution of local government institutions. The article identifies the factors of decentralization and the conditions for the formation of municipalism in Ukraine. The author’s opinion is substantiated that the Ukrainian history of local self-government has passed the corresponding stages of self-organization, legitimization and formation, active progressive development, Soviet and modern periods. The author of the article argues that the traditions of local self-government in Ukraine are much older than the traditions of the state. The history of Ukraine shows that when Europe was still dormant on the ruins of the Roman Empire, civilized cities and towns with their statutes and coats of arms, magistrates were already flourishing in Ukraine. It has been studied that the decentralized system necessarily presupposes the existence and existence of a potentially full-fledged center, if it decides to transfer part of the management functions to local governments. The article pays special attention to “the Principles of Unitarianism, Subsidiarity and Decentralization as a Constitutional Basis of Regional Self-Government of the Republic of Poland”. In particular, the three main principles that determine the territorial organization of the Republic of Poland are considered - the principle of unitarism and decentralization on the basis of the standard definition of the principle of subsidiarity. The author draws attention to the fact that in the historical discourse decentralization is not a one-time or one-time political or administrative action of the state; and it is a long, time- and space-long process that consists of a set of stages that change each other. It is stated and analyzed that in each country these laws are formed and operate in their own way. The system of municipal power is constructed in its own way. Features of political, economic or social development of the country, its democratic traditions, form of government and state system determine the diversity of local self-government systems and organizational manifestations of municipal government. The author proved that for a holistic, comprehensive and objective knowledge of the municipal government it is necessary, along with political, geographical, economic, mental, other internal and external factors, to take into account the historical factor. The author’s position is presented that analyzing the evolution of public self-government and municipalism, it is completely impractical to emphasize the position of the state as an institution that grants or creates the rights of territorial communities to local self-government. It is concluded that this approach traces the evolution of models and forms of decentralization that have been implemented throughout history. This approach also examines the ups and downs of municipalism and democracy in individual countries, the development of relevant theories, the nature of the relationship of municipal government with other actors and institutions of political organization of society.