The article is devoted to problems of social self-organization in rural communities. At the
present day in the situation of minimal public participation in rural problems social mechanisms
became key elements of public management in the sphere of their resolve.
These processes have been researched at some local rural territories in Karelia with the aid of socio-economic surveys. The presence of activists in rural communities who are ready to produce mechanisms of communication with external environment means important factor of self-government development. At the present day existing public territorial governments can become one of real sides of social partnership between rural habitants and two-leveled municipal power.