We live in a period where there is a heightened theoretical and political interest in the development of the countryside, as a significant "expansion of rurality" is taking place. This expansion is due to the changes observed in the content of rurality due to complex interactions and conflicts between the globalized system and the specific characteristics of rural areas. In the context of the new globalized era, there is a need for a new approach to the development of the countryside. At the same time, it is increasingly understood that there are close, complementary and/or competitive relationships and interactions between the rural and urban areas. The recent revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in June 2003 provides for the strengthening of agricultural development policy, i.e. the "second pillar" of the CAP, by allocating more resources to it, initiating new measures to promote the quality of life and welfare of animals in rural areas, and assisting European farmers in achieving high levels of quality in their production. We are at a crucial point for promoting rural development processes and policies, as developments are rapid and relevant discussions need to be accelerated. In this policy, issues directly affecting rural society and the prospects for its development are addressed. The use of the term "countryside" not only emphasizes the importance of the natural environment for the overall examination of the rural area, but also highlights the need to view the countryside as a field where multiple actions, different productive activities, heterogeneous uses of natural resources, and different social groups and social strata with conflicting perceptions of spatial development exist, promoting various efforts to appropriate parts of this space.