Prerequisites for the Administrative Reform of Rural Areas (on the Example of the Republic of Bashkortostan)

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the necessity and determine the directions of the administrative reform of the rural areas of the republic. Methodology/Approach: The authors use comparative analysis methods based on data from the Federal State Statistics Service. Results: it was found that in recent years there has been a narrowing of the area of authority of municipalities, there is a tendency to increase the number of public sector workers, which determines the costs of maintaining the staff of rural administrations. The creation of electoral districts by combining municipalities or their parts entails certain difficulties in the conducting of elections and the work of elected deputies. However, the enlargement of municipalities can have a positive effect in the form of a reduction in the number of deputies and an increase in their activity, the creation of a more efficient system of interconnection between the centre and municipalities, the authorities and the population. Changes are also required in the management system at the settlement level. The proposals of several regions to refuse to create councils in rural settlements, according to the authors, will have a positive effect, however, they require analysis and, if they are accepted, adaptations taking into account the conditions of the republic. The analysis shows that the changes taking place in the administration of rural areas are mostly positive and focused on new conditions for the work of government bodies. These changes should form the basis for the reconstruction of the municipalities’ structure. Originality: the study has shown that there are serious prerequisites for the administrative reform of rural settlements. At the same time, reforms can carry certain social risks, which require taking them into account and introducing measures to minimize their impact.