The study deals with the problems of participation of social subjects in revitalization and development of settlements and regions. It specifies the tasks and significance of participation in the settlement development, while it distinguishes two spheres of participation inputs of the social subjects - participation in decision-making and participation in the life and development of the community. In defining the prerequisites of participation the study documents the significance of information availability, functioning of the local communities, satisfying the life and settlement needs and interests, supporting the interest of the inhabitants, utilization of disposable potentials, especially of the human, cultural and social capitals. The position of the actors of participation has been specified and besides the dominant position of autonomous local administration bodies the effects of the community partnership of all the engaged social subjects have been stressed. The data applied in the study include the research findings, as well as those from the revitalization and developmental programmes of the communities that document the complicated situation and dispositions of rural settlements, namely as far as the participation is concerned.