The article describes the one-sided global discussion on urbanization, conducted without devel- oping sufficient future-oriented comprehensive visions and strategies for rural areas. The con- cepts discussion concerns mostly agriculture; while there is nearly nothing being said about es- tablishing central places, or nurturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in rural areas. Europe and Germany still believe in the principle of cohesion and the goals of the Territorial Agenda 2020 in endogenously developed rural areas, despite some controversial discussions about the need and outcome of specific and even enhanced strategies and measures in shrink- ing peripheral regions. It is not primarily a question of economy to support rural areas, but it is first and foremost a question of human rights, dignity and territorial justice. The constitutional demand of equivalent living conditions in Germany is a visible expression and result of territo- rial justice. Fortunately, this issue of justice is now a hot matter of political discussion in the Bavarian Parliament. In the second part of the article, the indispensable roles and contributions of civil society and NGOs as independent partners and co-producers of the State are described – such as the Bavarian Academy.