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The article brings a perspective of governmentality theory to the studies on residential suburbanization of the European postsocialist cities. By examining the accounts of the mayors of fringe urban districts and municipalities located in the metropolitan area of Brno, the second-largest Czech city, we identify two interlinked discourses – the reactive discourse and the proactive discourse, both underlined by a specific sociospatial imaginary of rurality. The lens of governmentality theory led to the focus on the mayors' understanding of the process, their position within it, the political tools they did (not) apply and the legitimation of their decisions. The two-wave research design (2006–2009 and 2019, 26 interviews in total) enabled us to capture the substantial change in the intensity of these discourses over time to examine how they relate to the construction of the boundaries of municipal responsibility within the challenging suburbanization process. • Governmentality theory contributes to the understanding of post-socialist suburbanization. • Longitudinal research shows a significant cultural change in suburban governance. • A shift from reactive to proactive discourse was identified in mayors' accounts. • Rural imaginary plays a key role in the legitimation of municipal responsibility. • The boundaries of municipal responsibility have gradually broadened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]