The modern concept of socio-territorial community as an object of study by both sociology and geography is defined, and an attempt is made to assess the validity of socio-territorial community as a politico-territorial structure. The urgency of problems of local government and self-government are shown in the light of the development of the concept of regional accountability, the increased role of local Soviets and the surmounting of the remaining principle of financing in the social sphere. -translated by P.Cooke