The article is dedicated to creating a promising methodology for developing long-term strategies in Russia. A comparative analysis of long-term strategies in Russia and in Western countries was carried out according to the following criteria: declared values, understanding of progressiveness, a place and a role in the society, content, indicators. The essential difference between domestic and foreign documents is demonstrated. Thus, a key focus of foreign strategies is human-oriented development, the creation of an environment of equal opportunities in which each resident will be able to maximize their potential. In Russia strategies are more oriented at achieving indicators of higher documents, full compliance with higher documents and formal provisions of laws. The fundamental distinction is a completely different approach to understanding progress. In the developed countries’ strategies the progress is perceived as sustainable development, improving the quality of life, maintaining the vitality of ecosystems and creating an environment for unlocking human potential, in many Russian ones it is seen as economic growth, industrial development and attracting investments at any cost. Such a mismatch leads to the discrepancies in the set of indicators, the quality and composition of structural blocks, key development tools, its nature, etc. It is shown that a promising methodology of strategic planning can be based on an environmentally-oriented (research program of ecological economics) and human-oriented approaches, as well as integrate modern tools of direct democracy. This methodology was used by the authors in designing strategies for the socio-economic development of Russian regions and cities in recent years.