CONCEPTUAL EVOLUTION OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive generalisation and further development of the theoretical and methodological foundations of sustainable rural development through the lens of the conceptual evolution of the corresponding scientific paradigm. It elucidates the genesis of the sustainable development concept – from environmentally oriented ideas centred on the finiteness of natural resources to the formation of an integrated socio-ecological-economic model institutionalised in international policy frameworks and programme documents. The transformation of approaches to rural development is analysed, tracing the shift from exogenous and modernisation paradigms to endogenous, neo-endogenous, and resilience-based approaches, reflecting a reorientation from sectoral agricultural growth towards holistic territorial development. Scholarly approaches to interpreting the content of sustainable rural development are systematised, and its key conceptual dimensions are identified: economic, social, environmental, institutional, and systemic-resilience. The role of agricultural multifunctionality, territorial capital, and the institutional capacity of communities is substantiated as fundamental determinants of the long-term sustainability of rural areas. An original authorial definition of the category “sustainable rural development” is proposed, conceptualising it as a multidimensional and continuous process of rural transformation grounded in the balancing of economic growth, social inclusiveness, and environmental reproduction, taking into account the principles of intergenerational equity and participatory governance. Conceptual models for ensuring sustainable rural development are developed, including a three-component interaction model of the core sustainability dimensions, a structural-functional model for the reproduction of territorial capital, and a “sustainability quadrant” as an analytical tool for the strategic management of rural development. It is demonstrated that the integration of these approaches forms a methodological foundation for enhancing the viability, competitiveness, and resilience of rural communities under contemporary transformational challenges. Prospects for further research are outlined, particularly in relation to the development of indicator-based sustainability assessment systems, modelling the reproduction of territorial capital, and adapting conceptual provisions to the practice of strategic planning for rural development in Ukraine.