La recomposition de l'espace rural lituanien dans la perspective de l'intégration européenne/ The reconstitution of the Lithuanian rural space in light of the European integration

In the 20th century, the Lithuanian rural space experienced three transformations as a consequence of the adoption of different agricultural models. The last one took place in the 1990's, when the country launched a market-oriented social and economic reform. This macro-economic environment, together with the introduction of private property in agriculture, led to the rural space's reconstitution: it can be seen in the emergence of new regional production Systems, in the change of population patterns, but also in the social destabilization of rural territories. However, spatial heritages ofthe former periods remain: they play a significant role in the current transformation according to the new agricultural model. This in-depth transformation of the rural Society compels a revising of the territorial division of the country in order to recognize self-governing local districts as the basis for local development.