From Urban–Rural Interactions to Partnerships: Policy Application Challenges

The application of urban-rural interactions in policy-making is faced with various chal-

lenges. The concept can be employed in different ways-as a framework for analysis, a

developmental challenge, a driving force, and an objective and measures of spatial and

regional development. International and Latvian policy documents indicate that urban-

rural interactions are not recognized as a distinctive analytical category. Urban-rural

relationships as a policy option are listed by the European Spatial Development Perspec-

tive alongside with polycentric urban systems (CSD, 1999). Urban-rural relationships are

seen as a policy instrument that, if adequately designed, can provide better connectivity,

and thus, an access to affordable and quality infrastructures and services (EC, 2010, p. 7).

There is a possibility of urban and rural symbiosis as urban and rural are “mutually sup-

portive if there are positive partnerships that can capture the full benefits for both urban

and rural areas” (CBSS, 2011, p. 10). Urban-rural relationships aiming to overcome ter-

ritorial divides, development gaps and utilizing full potentials of regions (VASAB, 2009)

768 L. Ku¯le