Author: Yelena A. Shishkina, postgraduate of Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science Dept.

Abstract: The article researches conventional and new factors, principal trends of regional development that conditioned the need for improving the technique and methodology of regional planning and governance, and designing mechanisms and tools for effective functioning of the regional governance system. The article explores the possibilities of applying basic propositions of the instrumentalism theory in regional strategic planning. It examines the opportunities of employing the fractal approach to study regional transformations and development of social-economic systems as well as to solve governance problems.

Key words: factors and trends of regional development; social-economic system; region; fractality; regional management; strategic planning; instrumentalism; instrumentalism theory.