A complex rural research program conducted by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Hungarian National Rural Network – an introduction

Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach is essential for understanding rural transformation processes and providing a theoretical background for the programmes supporting rural development and the preservation of rural values. The joint rural research programme of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Hungarian National Rural Network, started at the end of 2012, created a unique opportunity for researchers and experts with various fields of interest working in different rural locations to collaborate and form a temporary rural research network. Although the primary goal of the research was to provide a scientific background for the preparation of the 2014–2020 EU programming period, its results also included various theoretical and methodological findings; some of them are presented in this thematic issue of Space and Society. The aim of this introduction is to give an overview of the background, main goals and implementation of this rural research programme, to outline its main findings and the application of the results.