Urban-Rural Interactions in Latvian Changing Policy and Practice Context

This article aims at a better comprehension of urban-rural interactions as a spatial concept and its utilization for spatial and regional policies. Based on literature review and on interviews with planners and experts, the article explores how the concept of urban-rural interactions is defined, characterized and structured. The understanding of urban and rural, how they are connected provides a basis for capturing complexities and development of urban-rural interactions. The study, reviews urban-rural policies and practises in Latvia. Contemporary built-up areas and lifestyles are influenced by imprints of past urban-rural interactions. Aspects of contextuality, cross-sectorality and informality have to be taken into consideration when urban-rural interactions are applied to the policy field. The article introduces a typology to capture both the diversity and particularity of places in terms of urban-rural connectivity. An insight is given how the current Latvian local government territorial structure can contribute to building target-oriented urban-rural partnerships.