Methodical Approach to Identifying Problems in the Functioning of Territorial Communities Caused by Unstable Environments

The article deals with the topical problem of spatial development of territorial communities. The study aims at creating a methodical approach to identifying the problems in the functioning of territorial communities, the former being caused by unstable conditions, and the areas of spatial development of territories using a problem-oriented approach. The application of a problem-oriented approach to the spatial development of territorial communities is substantiated. The approach provides a set of actions in public administration and influences aimed at solving theoretical or practical problems of efficiently using local community resources by gaining new competitive advantages, creating favorable living conditions, ensuring population loyalty through actively solving the already existing and possible problems in community functioning. Within the problem-oriented framework, the spatial development of united territorial communities involves an approach based on the hypothesis that using the strategic capacity of a territorial community is not a problem-free process, and the arising problems require analysis and sound management decisions at the community level and within the powers of local authorities. A methodical approach to identifying problems with the functioning of territorial communities in an unstable environment is suggested. Namely, it involves analyzing the following issues: a) development level of united territorial communities through evaluating their resource provision and self-assessment of their development level, which helps to draw conclusions as for the effectiveness of using the community resources; b) legislative support for the spatial development of territorial communities; and c) the existing mechanisms, methods, and instruments of the state policy on the spatial development of Ukrainian territories. A cognitive map of interrelations between the existing problems of the spatial development of territorial communities has been drafted, in which four groups of problems are identified, in particular: 1) problems within the spatial development of territorial communities, and those connected with Ukraine’s territorial system; 2) problems of socio-economic development based on self-sufficiency; 3) problems in the local self-government system; 4) problems of rural development.