EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE FUNCTIONING IN THE CONTEXT OF OVERCOMING THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of scientific views on the role and functions of local government finance in the context of overcoming the consequences of war. The main idea of the article lies in conducting a thorough theoretical analysis of the development of conceptual approaches to this issue over the last 200 years, with the aim of deepening the theoretical understanding of local finance functioning under the conditions of military threats and post-war recovery. The purpose of the article is to deepen the theoretical understanding of the role of local government finance in overcoming the consequences of war. In accordance with this purpose, the article addresses three tasks: to conduct a retrospective analysis of the evolution of scientific views on the role of local finance during war; to systematize theoretical approaches to determining the functions of territorial community finances in wartime; and to clarify the key features of the modern scientific, methodological, and financial context using the real example of contemporary post-war Ukraine for studying local government finance in the context of wartime and significant uncertainty. Based on a retrospective analysis of the evolution of scientific thought and a generalization of modern challenges, the author proposes his own systematization of the functions of territorial community finances in wartime, which includes fiscal-supportive, stabilization-regulatory, recovery-developmental, social-protective, and democratic-consolidating functions. It is substantiated that the identification of precisely these functions allows for the formation of a holistic understanding of the multifaceted role of local self-government in adapting to the challenges of conflict and ensuring post-war recovery. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the further development of the theoretical foundations of local finance functioning through the development of an updated functional classification based on a comprehensive consideration of security, economic, social, and institutional criteria. It is concluded that the scientific, methodological, and financial context of studying local finance under the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war and post-war recovery requires a departure from traditional approaches and linear models that do not take into account new realities and challenges.