Russia’s spatial policy in the 21st century: Problems of effective public administration in the face of growing threats to national security

In the context of escalating geopolitical confrontation and increasing dynamism of the external environment, ensuring Russia's national security largely depends on the effective use of internal development factors, which include a significant, but currently insufficiently utilized spatial potential. This article, based on official statistics, our own monitoring studies, the results of all-Russian and regional sociological surveys, an analysis of the results of the practical implementation of strategic documents in this area, as well as the opinions of leading experts, presents an assessment of the effectiveness of public management of spatial development in Russia. It is shown that the market reforms of the 1990s, as well as the country's development in the following decades within the framework of the liberal model, led to the locational compression of developed socio-economic space, depopulation and degradation of the potential of small / medium-sized cities, rural areas, a decrease in the quality of life in peripheral territories, which poses a serious risk to national security. The objective facts presented in the work and subjective assessments of residents indicate an urgent need to improve the effectiveness of strategic public management of spatial development. This primarily concerns abandoning the approach of understanding the country's space as a "burden" and the need to increase the accountability of government bodies at all levels for achieving the targets of state strategies and development programs. The paper substantiates key areas for improving federal and regional public policy and demonstrates that their effective implementation requires the "nationalization" of the ruling elites. Their activities should be guided by the pursuit of a sovereign development course amidst intensifying economic, military, and sociocultural confrontation, thereby ensuring the consolidation of power and society in the face of emerging challenges. The author's contribution lies in expanding approaches to assessing the country's spatial development in the context of the growing role of territorial communities in these processes and substantiating strategic priorities for transforming Russia's state spatial policy in the context of intensifying contemporary challenges.