Restrukturyzacja obszarów wiejskich w świetle polityki regionalnej

The systemic transformation of Poland has brought with it more than 10 years of restructur-ing. This was particularly necessary in that most backward of the sectors, i.e. rural areas, and hence agriculture above all. The relations between the restructuring of rural areas and regional policy, as presented in this article, encompass: the strategie assumptions for the development of rural areas, the principles for the physical development of rural areas, transformations in the spatial structure of rural areas. A particular place among regional aspects to the development of rural areas is that taken by: the regional differentiation of development policy as regards the development of rural areas, the changeover from regional agricultural policy to regional policy for the development of rural areas, the determination of the role and tasks of local authorities. The directions taken in activating rural areas with a leading agricultural function will be favoured by the processes of the modernisation and increased environment-friendliness of agri-culture, and at the same time by the creation of new job opportunities in the sectors outside agriculture. The difficult situation of Polish rural areas, resulting from the leaking-away of labour and capital resources, poses a particular task for local authorities. If civilisational progress is to be obtained in rural areas, then intra-rcgional (local-government) policy will require marked inter-ventionist! on the part of inter-rcgional (central government) policy.