Rural Development

1. SOC226 Rural Sociology
Topic 6
Rural development

2. Topic objectives
• Identify the main features of the
modernisation paradigm and the different
ways in which it has been challenged as an
approach to rural development.
• Understand the differences and similarities
between rural development approaches in the
Global North and the Global South.
• Explain the merits and limitations of
endogenous rural development strategies.
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3. Why is rural development an
important sociological issue?
• The concentration, specialisation and integration of
productivist industries has led to declining economic
fortunes for many rural regions.
• At the same time, not all of these regions have been
able to capitalise on the shift to a consumption
economy.
• As a consequence governments have become involved
in regenerating “rural regions that are perceived to be
lagging economically, or to be challenged by economic
restructuring” (Woods, 2011, p.131).
• Why do governments intervene?
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4. Modernisation and rural
development
• The ‘conventional’ approach to rural development.
Assumes that societies as well as regions evolve in a
similar linear way over time from ‘less developed’ to
‘advanced’.
• According to Woods, rural modernisation involves four
parallel processes:
– Agricultural modernisation
– Economic modernisation
– Infrastructure modernisation
– Social modernisation
• In what ways is this approach applicable to Australia?
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5. Critiques of modernisation
• Evidence shows that a uniform, linear mode of
development does not exist in practice.
• Does not take into account historic power or colonial
relations, which have contributed to significant
inequalities in development trajectories.
• Despite development policies and programs, poverty
and insecurity continue to exist in poor as well as
‘advanced’ countries.
• The modernisation paradigm has done little to
promote sustainable rural livelihoods or resource use.
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6. The new rural development paradigm
• Emerged as a response to the limits of the
modernisation paradigm, and as part of the
neoliberalist critique of state intervention in
rural development.
• Three core features:
– Endogenous development
– A ‘bottom-up’ community-led approach
– Territorial based integrated development
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7. New rural development in the Global
North (Australia as a case study)
• Since the 1990s greater attention has been given to the
social and environmental (in addition to economic)
dimensions of rural decline.
• Emphasis on:
– Self help
– Capacity building
– Social capital
– Local leadership
• According to Vanclay (2011, p.66), the endogenous
rural development principles on which this approach is
based enhance rural sustainability and increase social
well-being as well as quality of life.
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8. Limitations?
• Assumes that rural communities are homogenous with
common interests.
• Assumes a level playing field for development.
However, not all towns possess the human or natural
capital to reverse declining fortunes.
• The emphasis on community leadership in capacity-
building can increase control by established local elites.
• Can result in a tendency to ‘blame the victim’ – those
communities that fail to develop as expected are
viewed as having insufficient motivation or willingness
to change.
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