Rural development: From practices and policies towards theory

Both in practice and policy a new model of rural development is emerging. T his paper reflects the discussions in the IMPACT. research programme and su ggests that at the level of associated theory also a fundamental shift is t aking place, The modernization paradigm that once dominated policy, practic e and theory is being replaced by a new rural development paradigm. Rural d evelopment is analyzed as a multi-level, multi-actor and multi-facetted pro cess rooted in historical traditions that represents at all levels a fundam ental rupture with the modernization project. The range of new quality prod ucts, services and forms of cost reduction that together comprise rural dev elopment are understood as a response by farm families to both the eroding economic base of their enterprises and to the new needs and expectations Eu ropean society has of the rural areas. Rural development therefore is large ly an autonomous, self-driven process and in its further unfolding agricult ure will continue to play a key role, although it is a role that may well c hange. This article provides an introduction to the nine papers of this 'sp ecial issue' and the many reconfiguration processes embodied in rural devel opment that they address.