Russia’s New Local Governance Law: Tactics or Strategy (a Factor Analysis Approach)

Over the past 20 years, Russia’s municipal legislation has developed without a clear conceptual framework, evolving through ad hoc responses to changing circumstances. The adoption of a new federal law on local self-government in March 2025 raises a crucial question: does this legislation continue the trend of tactical regulatory adjustments, or does it reflect a deliberate strategy for developing local governance? To answer this question, the article attempts to analyze the new local government law through a factor-based approach. The analysis focuses on two key factors that shaped the law’s content: spatial (geography and demographics) and functional (instruments of governance). The author concludes that the law does reflect a strategic approach to local governance development, primarily manifesting in two trends: (1) consolidation of municipal entities and (2) expansion of regional authorities’ powers in defining local government competencies. However, the study also identifies risks associated with this strategy, particularly the potential decline in social effectiveness of local governance due to weakened connections between authorities and local communities. The research findings emphasize the need to maintain balance between operational efficiency and social effectiveness when implementing the new legal framework.