Розвиток місцевого самоврядування в Україні за роки незалежності в аспекті його інноваційності

The article examines the origins of the formation of local self-government in independent Ukraine and analyzes the main stages of its development in terms of both form and content from an innovative aspect. This approach make it possible to identify the continuity of historical traditions and attempts to introduce innovative practices in the development of local self-government. In the author’s opinion, focusing only on the legal aspect of the evolution of municipal relations is not sufficient for a full understanding of the nature and dynamics of the development of local self-government. A comprehensive approach, combining interdisciplinary perspectives, make it possible to take into account the real needs of communities and to offer a new vision for their future development. The development of local self-government in Ukraine since the declaration of independence has been innovative in nature, but has been mostly limited to the legal framework - improving structures and competencies. At present, the extensive potential of this development has largely been exhausted: increasing efficiency and approaching European standards is possible only through innovative approaches that go beyond the law and are based on the achievements of political science, urban studies, and public administration, with further consolidation in legislation. From the innovative perspective of the evolution of local self-government, the following stages can be distinguished: 1) 1991-1996 – the introduction of the institution of local self-government as an innovative approach to the territorial organization of public authority and the search for its optimal domestic model; 2) 1996-2004 – constitutionalization of the domestic model of local self-government and its alignment with international legal standards; 3) 2004-2014 – functional and competence-based growth of local self-government, combined with the accumulation of contradictions in its organization and activities; 4) 2014-2022 – reform of local self-government in the context of decentralization as an innovative way of developing the territorial organization of public authority; 5) from February 2022 to the present – innovative growth of the role of local self-government in the field of national security and defense under martial law.