LEADER and Community-Led Local Development Approach. Polish Experiences

The LEADER approach implemented in rural areas of the European Union since 1991 has for many years unchangeably been the subject of interest of many researchers such as sociologists, political scientists, geographers, and economists. Extensive source literature points to its advantages but also to its weak sides and drawbacks. The formation and functioning of local action groups illustrates the complex relations between the main social actors responsible for the development of contemporary rural and – since the beginning of implementation of Community-Led Local Development – also urban areas. Due to specificity and size of the country, Poland seems to be especially legitimate to analyze the LEADER approach and Community-Led Local Development. This publication analyzes these issues from the perspective of researchers from three scientific centers (the University of Łódź, the University of Rzeszów, and the Urban Development Institute (IRM) in Kraków, representing different scientific areas: sociology, political science, and geography.