Sustainable development of rural territorial communities: theoretical aspects

This paper deals with process of forming the essence of the notion of «territorial community». The author analyzes in detail the evolution of the concept of «territorial community» and its essence presented by scholars and in existing legislation, on the basis of which, the actual vision of the definition «rural community » is presented. So, the author, under the rural community means a certain association of residents of a limited area of the village or settlement, which show the initiative to jointly solve the problems of the community, taking into account the features of the territory, infrastructure, economic development, the state of agriculture and cultural traditions. The various approaches of scientists concerning the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study of the concept of «territorial community», namely, qualitative, ecological, ethnographic, sociological, economic, and systemic are highlighted. It is proved that the economic approach should include in the complex and the level of provision of social services, the development of culture, in particular its infrastructure within the limits of social, taking into account geographical location, ecological situation in this territory, external relations with other communities, cultural potential. At the same time, the system of approaches to the study of territorial communities and the division of rural communities, depending on their peculiarities, has been improved. A number of functions are determined with the help of which the livelihoods and competitiveness of a village or city will be ensured, as well as the principles of functioning of the association of territorial communities of villages, settlements, cities will be improved. The analysis of the results of scientific research carried out in the direction of the functioning of rural communities in Ukraine has been carried out. It is proposed to use models of functioning of territories depending on belonging to a certain category in order to ensure their sustainable development. The obtained r