Inter-Municipal Cooperation Development in the Context of State Public Policy Transformation

Abstract

The study is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the inter-municipal movement in Russia and the impact of internal political changes on the state of local self-government, which is especially relevant during the period of the new municipal reform being implemented in Russia, associated with the adoption of Federal Law No. 33-FZ dated March 20, 2025 “On the General Principles of Organizing Local Government in a Unified System of Public Authority.” The purpose of the study is to analyze the institution of inter-municipal cooperation in Russia and to identify the main factors determining its functioning at various stages of the Russian political system development. This work is based on a comprehensive analysis of the scientific works of Russian researchers in the fields of jurisprudence, economics, sociology, and law, as well as the study of Russian and international practices of inter-municipal cooperation. The primary research methods are historical-chronological method, systematization and classification, comparative analysis, theoretical analysis and synthesis, and empirical data analysis. The study findings include an analysis of the main approaches to defining the historical framework for the development of inter-municipal cooperation and identifying its main goals, types, and forms. The research concludes that developing inter-municipal cooperation is essential for ensuring the balanced development of municipalities in Russia.