The article systematizes the scientific principles of research into the infrastructure system of rural areas.
The purpose of the article is to generalize the theoretical foundations of the infrastructure systems study of rural areas based on the provisions of systemic, evolutionary, structural-functional, spatial approaches, principles study of sustainable development, strategic management and substantiation of the methodological foundations for studying the specifics of the rural areas infrastructure.
The most common approaches to the definition of the concept of «infrastructure» are identified: service, in which infrastructure is considered as the basis of public service, production activity, etc.; reproductive - infrastructure is the basis for reproduction of goods, services, life activities, etc.; complex - infrastructure as a complex of objects; systemic - infrastructure as a system, a set of objects interconnected with each other and the external environment; spatial - infrastructure as the forming basis of the region, local territory.
It has been established that in modern research, infrastructure is considered as a system-wide concept, an approach to its understanding is being formed as a separate integral system, as well as a subsystem of the second order, in particular, spatial, socio-economic. Itis argued that the spatial approach to the understanding of infrastructure has become the most widespread in the research of the infrastructure of rural areas.
It is substantiated that spatial studies of infrastructure involve considering it not only as a service system, but also as a means of development, a communication connecting platform for territories, the full functioning of which determines the systemic effects of branch and regional components of spatial formations, socio-economic systems. The theoretical aspects of the regional infrastructure concept which are based on an interdisciplinary approach, based on a combination of key provisions of the regional and spatial economics theory, systems theory, evolutionary economics, and infrastructure theory, have been supplemented.
The definition of the «infrastructural system of arural area» concept is proposed as a dynamic complementary structure that forms and transforms the spatial basis of socio-economic activity at the area rural level, ensures the development of interconnected, interacting systems, elements, objects of various territories hierarchical levels based on mutual complementarity.
Key words: infrastructure, infrastructure system, rural areas, spatial economy, evolutionary economy, system approach, infrastructure theories.
