Citizen Involvement in Urban Improvement: Problems and Solutions

Introduction. The indicators characterizing the degree of Russian citizens’ involvement in urban improvement and development add up to a contradictory picture. On the one hand, according to official data, public interest in this type of social activity is growing, the dynamics of quantitative indicators is positive. On the other hand, the level of trust in local governments is decreasing, and public activists are claiming insufficient involvement of citizens in urban improvement. The purpose of the study is to identify the main problems that reduce the level of involvement of Russian citizens in urban improvement and give recommendations for improving the practices of their participation in urban renewal. Materials and Methods. The study analyzed 28 sources published between the years of 2020 and 2024 and devoted to the issues of citizen involvement in urban improvement in Russia and abroad. The sources include articles taken from Russian electronic libraries and regulatory legal acts. Results. The analysis showed an increase in Russians’ interest in improving the urban environment and a potential for their substantive involvement in specific projects. A comparison of the best international practices with Russian approaches revealed a major problem of the quality of communication between city authorities and citizens. There are some practices in Russia that promote citizen involvement in one way or another, but they cannot compare with their foreign counterparts in terms of diversity, democracy and informality. Discussion and Conclusion. The basis for the growth of Russian citizens’ involvement in urban improvement and development is the de-bureaucratization of the existing communication mechanisms between all stakeholders and the expansion of the variety of relevant practices, such as digital, interactive and educational initiatives, developing partnerships and cooperation.