Do we need a village development strategy?

In rural areas some changes are occuring (and being announced) which affect some of the basic natural, physical and social characteristics of the rural environment. In the future these changes will increase. Thus their existence poses a whole lot of questions and dilemmas connected to the future development of rural areas. First, we think it is high time we accepted the fact that the rural environment is a specific segment of the entire environment, the entire economy and society, and its development is a constitutive part of our overall development. As a neglected part of the economy and society, the village develops spontaneously, as far as its possibilities allow and under a strong influence of the urban system of values. This kind of development is full of dangers that threaten to devalue many authentic (specific—autochthonous) and permanent values of that environment. Must we, accepting the development cliche of industial countries, repeat all their difficulties and crises (social, spatial ecological), or could we learn from their experience and give meaning to another (new) way of spatial, economic and social development. If we are not satisfied with merely the role of spectator and chronicler of changes and their consequences, but would like to take an active part in creating a new future for the rural environment and the village, then we should continuously keep abreast of and research changes (and announcements of changes) that are taking place there. On the basis of insight thus gathered, we should also think about formulating a strategy of rural development (a certain kind of codex of behaviour) that would, as a generally—accepted document, point to problems, present its views on the further development of the rural environment and propose activities and measures that would channel development in the desired direction. We consider that the rural environment, with its values and role in our overall development, merits this kind of attention