摘要:The article reveals the necessity to use a foresight when designing strategic plans and programs for the socio-economic development of rural municipalities in the present conditions of spatial and harmonious development of rural territories. A phased algorithm for forecasting the social development in rural areas. The article presents the results of foreseeing the social development of rural territories of the Nonchernozem zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The proposed unified foresight research methodology that makes it possible to provide a realistic target setting and precise «targeting» of strategic planning for the social development in rural areas. Summing up that the foresight technologies should be used as a system tool for developing a strategy for sustainable development of rural territorial systems.