CITIZENS' TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES IN UKRAINE: FACTORS, CONSEQUENCES AND WAYS OF STRENGTHENING

Abstract

Background. Citizens' trust in local government bodies is one of the key factors that determines the effectiveness of the local government system, promotes social cohesion and supports the development of territorial communities. In the context of deep transformations and numerous challenges that Ukraine faces, in particular political, economic and security ones, the issue of building trust acquires particular importance. A high level of trust increases the legitimacy of management decisions, stimulates citizen activity and ensures sustainable interaction between authorities and society. This makes the study of the nature of trust relevant both in scientific and practical terms.

Methods. The study used a comprehensive approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A comparative analysis was used to identify regional features of trust formation and comparison with international practices based on an analysis of the regulatory framework. Content analysis covered public speeches, analytical reports, official documents and media publications, which allowed us to identify key aspects of information policy, transparency and public communication. The structural-functional approach allowed us to generalize the relationships between different management entities and build a conceptual model with a focus on transparency, accountability, efficiency, social capital and regulatory regulation.

Results. The analysis confirmed that the level of trust is a multidimensional indicator. It is positively influenced by the transparency of procedures, openness of information, access to budget data and citizen involvement in decision-making. Digital technologies, the speed of response to community requests and the effectiveness of management decisions play an important role. The developed model demonstrates the relationship between social and institutional factors of trust. Comparison with international practice shows that digitalization and modernization of processes are key factors in increasing trust in local self-government.

Conclusions. Trust in local self-government bodies is critically important for the stability and effectiveness of public administration in Ukraine. Ensuring transparency, accountability, development of public participation and digital tools should become a priority in reforming local governance. The proposed model can be used as a basis for developing strategies to strengthen trust in the face of modern challenges.