The Countryside as a Space of Double Peripherality for Youth from Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Rural youth in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) experience double (or multiple) peripherality. This phenomenon arises from the unique position of CEE countries in the European Union, the shared trajectory of their transformation – which disproportionately burdens vulnerable or previously marginalised groups – and the neglect of rural youth in development planning, including agricultural, rural development, and youth policies. This study explores the extent to which rural youth perceive and experience their own peripherality, how this perception influences their career aspirations, the role of schools and the quality of education in this context, their attachment to local communities, and the freedoms associated with EU membership. These questions were investigated through two international research projects, culminating in publications that address these themes.