Public Policies for Social Innovation in Rural Areas

At the end of the second decade of the twenty-first century, European rural policies are on the edge of change. There is a need to evaluate the way social innovations contribute to achieving the goals of rural development policies. However, the direct and indirect impact of policies stimulating social innovation on social practices is often difficult to monitor. Important factors for emerging social innovations are the rural context and capacity of the population which are determined by regional natural and cultural resources, and political and socio-economic conditions at different levels. The adaptive cycle offers a conceptual lens to explore the potential contribution of social innovation and to address how best to respond to challenge facing socio-ecological systems in rural Europe.