The article describes the one sided global discussion on urbanization without developing sufficient future oriented comprehensive visions and strategies for rural areas. Mostly the concepts are about agriculture, nearly nothing about establishing central places and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in rural areas. Europe and Germany still believe in the principle of cohesion and the goals of Territorial Agenda 2020 in indigenously developed rural areas despite some controversial discussions about the need and outcome of specific and even enhanced strategies and measures in shrinking periphery regions. It is not primarily a question of economy to support rural areas but it is first 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 territorial justice. Fortunately, this issue of justice is now a hot matter of political discussion in Bavarian Parliament. In the second part of the article the indispensable roles and contributions of civil society and NGOs as independent partner and coproducer of the state like the Bavarian Academy are described.