Prerequisites and involvement of the rural population in the practice of civic participation

In the context of the declining economic and social life in Russia, ensuring sustainable development of rural areas is an urgent problem. Russian and foreign researchers come to a conclusion that one of the important resources of development of the rural space is civil initiatives of the local population (A. Etzioni, P. Vanin, J. Masschelein, R. Quaghebeur, Williams, A. Gilchrist, Yu.A. Bolshakova, T.V. Sukhanova, etc.). The purpose of the article is to attempt to identify the features of attitudes and real practices of civil participation of the rural population based on the materials of the Vologda Oblast. The research uses methods of formal logical analysis, sociological research (questionnaire), tabular and graphical methods of data visualization. The research novelty consists in the study of civic participation and the attitudes affecting it depending on spatial differentiation (village/city). The results of sociological measurements reveal that rural residents demonstrate significant potential for self-organization in solving social problems, as evidenced by the analysis of value attitudes to civil participation. Villagers and city residents are equally involved in diverse practices of civic participation, and the level of participation of villagers is not significantly different from similar parameters for the urban population. According to the analysis, participation in activities of public organizations and readiness for such work as a member or volunteer of the population of rural areas is lower than that of citizens. In such conditions, the number of active and effectively functioning non-profit organizations and initiative groups in rural areas is lower. The prospects of scientific and practical search for further formation of infrastructure creating a more accessible environment for the involvement of the rural population in the practice of civil participation are obvious. The research results can be used in activities of regional and municipal authorities for developing and implementing measures aimed at increasing the level of constructive civic participation of the rural population.