Martin Pělucha is Professor of Regional Science at the University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic.Prof. Edward Kasabov, Professor in Marketing, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool (Tallinn University of Technology - TalTech).

• Contents Table of contents * Part I: Introduction * Part II: Rural studies in Period 4.0 – theoretical departures * 2. Defining rural areas: a never-ending exercise? * 3. Analysis of Period 4.0 factors in the context of theoretical approaches to rural studies * 4. Paradigms of rural, farm and agricultural diversification * 5. The policy context - Development paradigm of or stabilisation of rural areas? * 6. Partial conclusion * Part III: Territorial drivers of Rural Development 4.0 * 7. Digital rural regions – infrastructure and agenda * 8. Public services in the countryside - context, problems and relevant policy-making * 9. The role of human resources in Period 4.0 – challenges of rural labour markets, education and training, and territorial specifics of EU countries * 10. Territorial urban-rural links - new trends and drivers of regional development * 11. Partial conclusion * Part IV: The Neo-productivist paradigm of Rural Development Policy – challenges ahead * 12. Rural Studies and Rural Development Policy: A Complex, Charged and Contradictory Nexus * 13. Neo-productivism in the EU’s rural development policy-making * 14. Coherence and mismatch of Neo-productivist Rural Policy and Countryside 4.0 * 15. Methodological context of rural development policy assessment * 16. Partial conclusion * Part V: Conclusions * Appendix I: About the Author/Editor *

Martin Pělucha is Professor of Regional Science at the University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic.Prof. Edward Kasabov, Professor in Marketing, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool (Tallinn University of Technology - TalTech).

• Contents Table of contents * Part I: Introduction * Part II: Rural studies in Period 4.0 – theoretical departures * 2. Defining rural areas: a never-ending exercise? * 3. Analysis of Period 4.0 factors in the context of theoretical approaches to rural studies * 4. Paradigms of rural, farm and agricultural diversification * 5. The policy context - Development paradigm of or stabilisation of rural areas? * 6. Partial conclusion * Part III: Territorial drivers of Rural Development 4.0 * 7. Digital rural regions – infrastructure and agenda * 8. Public services in the countryside - context, problems and relevant policy-making * 9. The role of human resources in Period 4.0 – challenges of rural labour markets, education and training, and territorial specifics of EU countries * 10. Territorial urban-rural links - new trends and drivers of regional development * 11. Partial conclusion * Part IV: The Neo-productivist paradigm of Rural Development Policy – challenges ahead * 12. Rural Studies and Rural Development Policy: A Complex, Charged and Contradictory Nexus * 13. Neo-productivism in the EU’s rural development policy-making * 14. Coherence and mismatch of Neo-productivist Rural Policy and Countryside 4.0 * 15. Methodological context of rural development policy assessment * 16. Partial conclusion * Part V: Conclusions * Appendix I: About the Author/Editor *

Martin Pělucha is Professor of Regional Science at the University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic.Prof. Edward Kasabov, Professor in Marketing, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool (Tallinn University of Technology - TalTech).

• Contents Table of contents * Part I: Introduction * Part II: Rural studies in Period 4.0 – theoretical departures * 2. Defining rural areas: a never-ending exercise? * 3. Analysis of Period 4.0 factors in the context of theoretical approaches to rural studies * 4. Paradigms of rural, farm and agricultural diversification * 5. The policy context - Development paradigm of or stabilisation of rural areas? * 6. Partial conclusion * Part III: Territorial drivers of Rural Development 4.0 * 7. Digital rural regions – infrastructure and agenda * 8. Public services in the countryside - context, problems and relevant policy-making * 9. The role of human resources in Period 4.0 – challenges of rural labour markets, education and training, and territorial specifics of EU countries * 10. Territorial urban-rural links - new trends and drivers of regional development * 11. Partial conclusion * Part IV: The Neo-productivist paradigm of Rural Development Policy – challenges ahead * 12. Rural Studies and Rural Development Policy: A Complex, Charged and Contradictory Nexus * 13. Neo-productivism in the EU’s rural development policy-making * 14. Coherence and mismatch of Neo-productivist Rural Policy and Countryside 4.0 * 15. Methodological context of rural development policy assessment * 16. Partial conclusion * Part V: Conclusions * Appendix I: About the Author/Editor *