AGRARIAN PROTECTIONISM AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR REVITALIZATION OF RURAL AREAS

Agricultural protectionism serves as an essential policy strategy for preserving local agricultural output and fostering sustainable rural growth, especially in economies susceptible to market instability and international rivalry. Through price stabilization, assistance for small and medium-sized farms, and the encouragement of innovation, protectionist policies alleviate the negative impacts of trade liberalization and population decline. Experiences from Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States show that effectively crafted protectionist policies can boost competitiveness, update production processes, and maintain rural traditions. In addition to its economic significance, agrarian protectionism aids in ecological conservation, promotes rural jobs, and invigorates local communities. With the growing integration of global markets, protectionist measures, when aligned with environmental and social goals and institutional transparency, act not as trade barriers, but as strategic tools for sustainable rural resilience and equitable territorial development.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ: 

Agrarian protectionism, rural development, agricultural policy, sustainable agriculture

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ПРОЈЕКАТ:

Research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, grant 451-03-136/2025-03/200009 from 4^th February 2025.

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