Rapid change in the world economy required revision of the rural policy paradigm and adaptation to the values of post-industrial society. The new "place-based" paradigm requires important changes for setting rural policy measures that intend to have multi-level approach and orientation towards sustainable development of the entire rural region rather than support to an individual farm or a settlement. Therefore, new rural policy paradigm focuses on administrative-territorial regions instead of individual settlements. Lithuanian government need to do adjustments along new trends in rural policy and administer these policies effectively.
Rapid change in the world economy required revision of the rural policy paradigm and adaptation to the values of post-industrial society. The new "place-based" paradigm requires important changes for setting rural policy measures that intend to have multi-level approach and orientation towards sustainable development of the entire rural region rather than support to an individual farm or a settlement. Therefore, new rural policy paradigm focuses on administrative-territorial regions instead of individual settlements. Lithuanian government need to do adjustments along new trends in rural policy and administer these policies effectively.
We also have organized some scientific expeditions in the different regions of our state with the purpose to collect data about evaluation of local authorities' collaboration with communities and about proposals of active citizens for possibilities of improving of self-governance system, as well as system of election for municipalities' council members, mayors and chiefs of municipality administrations. Our proposals, stated in the paper, encompass a model of three stage system of self-governance, rejecting of proportional elections system, based on voting for list of candidates of only one political party, strongly limiting rights of voters, as well as improvement of elected people responsibility to local community.
Lithuanian society has to revaluate the scientific heritage and past experience of the independent Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) and to examin e the contemporary experience of the Western European countries in sustainable development of regions with the different level of urbanization. The main obstacle for the realization of new strategies in Lithuania also lies in the old-fashioned view to agrarian sector and current possibilities of rural areas. Education of civil society in the post-soviet regions has to be recognized as the most difficult challenge to the restoration of democracy. The current situation in Lithuania's low urbanized and remote area s should be seen as extremely complicated. The population in these localities is waiting for radical economic and social changes to avoid the stagnancy and to start the implementation of new rural development policy. It has to include the wide diversification of economic activity, creation of new jobs, planning of modern settlements and homesteads for educated people, etc. One of the most important issues for the new social policy lies in the amplification of citizens with native land and their own state. Increasing in the number of land owners can serve as one of the most powerful factors for the revaluation of people notions and creation of the new citizen's position. Rural areas have to become a valuable part of the overall state economy.
Lithuanian society has to revaluate the scientific heritage and past experience of the independent Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) and to examin e the contemporary experience of the Western European countries in sustainable development of regions with the different level of urbanization. The main obstacle for the realization of new strategies in Lithuania also lies in the old-fashioned view to agrarian sector and current possibilities of rural areas. Education of civil society in the post-soviet regions has to be recognized as the most difficult challenge to the restoration of democracy. The current situation in Lithuania's low urbanized and remote area s should be seen as extremely complicated. The population in these localities is waiting for radical economic and social changes to avoid the stagnancy and to start the implementation of new rural development policy. It has to include the wide diversification of economic activity, creation of new jobs, planning of modern settlements and homesteads for educated people, etc. One of the most important issues for the new social policy lies in the amplification of citizens with native land and their own state. Increasing in the number of land owners can serve as one of the most powerful factors for the revaluation of people notions and creation of the new citizen's position. Rural areas have to become a valuable part of the overall state economy.
We also have organized some scientific expeditions in the different regions of our state with the purpose to collect data about evaluation of local authorities' collaboration with communities and about proposals of active citizens for possibilities of improving of self-governance system, as well as system of election for municipalities' council members, mayors and chiefs of municipality administrations. Our proposals, stated in the paper, encompass a model of three stage system of self-governance, rejecting of proportional elections system, based on voting for list of candidates of only one political party, strongly limiting rights of voters, as well as improvement of elected people responsibility to local community.
The paper deals with the purpose and particularity of the annual international scientific conferences "Vision of the Modern Village", organized at Šiauliai University by Rural Development Research Centre of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Lithuania). Necessity for these conferences is determined by three main factors. First of all, understanding of the village even in academic society is extremely closely related to the agrarian sector. Even investments in the development of rural economy more often than not are evaluated as prospectless and unable to stimulate progress of science and home manufacture. Secondly, the majority of scientific discussions dedicated to rural topicalities are, as a rule, designated to survey of one field of agrarian science or to one branch of rural economy, for example, animal science, husbandry, apiculture, horticulture, etc. The scientific workshops organized for analysis of rural development topics with participation of natural, social and humanitarian sciences, are recognized as rarity or exception. Thirdly, the integrated implementation of scientific and managerial innovations for the countryside (rural) economy is still hardly imaginable in the postsoviet region. Objectives of the implementation of sustainable and wellbalanced economics in the nonurbanized areas and hinterlands are still at the level of nice verbal declarations or good intentions. The differences and inequalities in economic and social development of regions become more and more evident. Social, cultural and e ven political disjuncture of rural population become the main obstacle to the state progress. [.]
The paper deals with the purpose and particularity of the annual international scientific conferences "Vision of the Modern Village", organized at Šiauliai University by Rural Development Research Centre of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Lithuania). Necessity for these conferences is determined by three main factors. First of all, understanding of the village even in academic society is extremely closely related to the agrarian sector. Even investments in the development of rural economy more often than not are evaluated as prospectless and unable to stimulate progress of science and home manufacture. Secondly, the majority of scientific discussions dedicated to rural topicalities are, as a rule, designated to survey of one field of agrarian science or to one branch of rural economy, for example, animal science, husbandry, apiculture, horticulture, etc. The scientific workshops organized for analysis of rural development topics with participation of natural, social and humanitarian sciences, are recognized as rarity or exception. Thirdly, the integrated implementation of scientific and managerial innovations for the countryside (rural) economy is still hardly imaginable in the postsoviet region. Objectives of the implementation of sustainable and wellbalanced economics in the nonurbanized areas and hinterlands are still at the level of nice verbal declarations or good intentions. The differences and inequalities in economic and social development of regions become more and more evident. Social, cultural and e ven political disjuncture of rural population become the main obstacle to the state progress. [.]
Current situation in Lithuanian rural areas is among the topical and extremely controversial social objects. During the recent seven decades our countryside had experience almost incommensurable with the situation in any another field of economical and social life. Week possibilities of rural inhabitants to invest, small purchasing power and inadequate professional background generally inappropriate for modern labour market are the biggest obstacles for further rural economic development. Globalization and Lithuania's accession to the European Union have a radical impact on the role of modern rural areas. This makes it necessary to disclose substantial changes in rural areas, which have to be analyzed by public institutions involved in administration of rural development. The latest data about demographical and economic situation, also about changes in rural infrastructure and life quality of rural residents is presented in the paper.
The paper analyzes contemporary rural development, which includes economic, social, political, cultural and environmental changes and tendencies that appeared in the recent years. The possibility to apply European rural development model is discussed. This model changes approach to rural areas. It is characterized by concept of sustainable rural development, multifunctional agriculture with focus on rural heritage, organic farming, and modernization of rural settlements. Long-term strategy of development of rural areas is based on the modern tendencies of economics in post-industrial society and prospects for creation of educated and active society, as well as on optimal use of local resources and creation of safe and comfortable environment for the present and future generations. Much attention is paid to sustainable use of renewable energy sources, organic agriculture, and healthy lifestyle. European rural development model is a contrast to the so-called Cairns Group model, which favours aggressive actions to ensure rapid profit growth, using for this purpose all the currently available technologies and measures in hope that future generations will find new ways to restore degraded areas and resources to survive. [.]
Current situation in Lithuanian rural areas is among the topical and extremely controversial social objects. During the recent seven decades our countryside had experience almost incommensurable with the situation in any another field of economical and social life. Week possibilities of rural inhabitants to invest, small purchasing power and inadequate professional background generally inappropriate for modern labour market are the biggest obstacles for further rural economic development. Globalization and Lithuania's accession to the European Union have a radical impact on the role of modern rural areas. This makes it necessary to disclose substantial changes in rural areas, which have to be analyzed by public institutions involved in administration of rural development. The latest data about demographical and economic situation, also about changes in rural infrastructure and life quality of rural residents is presented in the paper.
The paper analyzes contemporary rural development, which includes economic, social, political, cultural and environmental changes and tendencies that appeared in the recent years. The possibility to apply European rural development model is discussed. This model changes approach to rural areas. It is characterized by concept of sustainable rural development, multifunctional agriculture with focus on rural heritage, organic farming, and modernization of rural settlements. Long-term strategy of development of rural areas is based on the modern tendencies of economics in post-industrial society and prospects for creation of educated and active society, as well as on optimal use of local resources and creation of safe and comfortable environment for the present and future generations. Much attention is paid to sustainable use of renewable energy sources, organic agriculture, and healthy lifestyle. European rural development model is a contrast to the so-called Cairns Group model, which favours aggressive actions to ensure rapid profit growth, using for this purpose all the currently available technologies and measures in hope that future generations will find new ways to restore degraded areas and resources to survive. [.]
Our researches show Tauragė district as a typical semirural location with predomination of small enterprises and medium-size farms. There are some favourable preconditions for development of organic farming and rural tourism. Local authorities have to revise their strategic plans and to envisage new possibilities for development of small and medium business, for design ing new settlements devoted to young educated people. Many of local competitive advantages are still not used for this purpose.
Our researches show Tauragė district as a typical semirural location with predomination of small enterprises and medium-size farms. There are some favourable preconditions for development of organic farming and rural tourism. Local authorities have to revise their strategic plans and to envisage new possibilities for development of small and medium business, for design ing new settlements devoted to young educated people. Many of local competitive advantages are still not used for this purpose.
The growing differences between rural and urban development suggest that the country does not have suitable strategic policy for rural development issue. Development principles should be the same for all regions of the country (in spite of the fact whether it is rural areas or cities) for implementation of the European development model and the principles of a democratic state. Unfortunately, our country's governance and policy making has a lot of gaps which makes it difficult to meet the needs of society in the process of the implementation of the development, and the management is of non-compliance with the provisions of strategic management.
