Lecture 1 - Rurality PDF

GEOG 220 Section B: Geographies of rural change Annika Maniram [email protected]. za  Core themes 1. Introduction  What is rural? definitions and characteristics  Rural Development: themes obstacles 2. Theory, Approaches a...

GEOG 220 Section B: Geographies of rural change Annika Maniram [email protected]. za  Core themes 1. Introduction  What is rural? definitions and characteristics  Rural Development: themes obstacles 2. Theory, Approaches and Strategies  Theoretical perspectives on rural development  Strategies: Structural adjustment programmes Integrated Rural Development  Core themes 3. Explanation of Rural Poverty  Globalisation  Health issues: HIV/AIDS  Lack of basic services: education 4. Critical land issues  Historical background to the land question in Southern Africa  Key land challenges/issues: rural women, patriarchy and land reform  Rurality 1. What is a rural area? 2. Why is it difficult to define? 3. Characteristics of a rural area 4. Is rural becoming what urban is? 5. The economic and social character of rural areas 6. Why is it important to understand what the term “rural” means?  What is a rural area? Defining rural/ rurality: Characterized previously by size (low population density) and isolation. However, defining a rural area is not simple and straightforward due to the vast contextual differences that exist within rural settings. Two common but contrasting definitions: Ward & Brown (2009:1239), is ‘rural areas are considered as places of tradition rather than modernity, of agriculture rather than industry, of nature rather than culture and of changelessness rather than dynamism’. (objective definition). AND rurality is not a thing or territorial unit, but derives from the social production of meaning’. This definition views rurality as being subjective, socially constructed and located in people’s minds, rather than a material or objective reality (Mormont, 1990). (subjective definition). What is rural cont. Perceptions of what ‘’rural’’ is has shifted throughout the years in geography: 1970s- Functional perspective- low population densities and dispersed patterns. 1980s- Political-economic perspective- rural was a product of broader social, economic and political processes (Apartheid era in SA) 1990s- Socially constructed perspective- social, cultural and moral values associated with rural life (traditional way of living)  Why is it difficult to define? A single definition cannot capture the true essence of what constitutes a rural area mainly because: The vast contextual differences existing in rural settings No single definition is capable of serving all disciplines Rural areas differ in respect to developed and developing countries In order to have an idea of what rurality is, one needs to have a broad understanding of what constitutes a rural area contextually. Characteristics of a rural area Size and isolation form a combination to produce other images such as: 1. homogenous cultures, 2. an economy based on natural resources and 3. a strong sense of local identity. Rural areas became a homeland or safety-net if things got bad in the urban area, Urbanites source of comfort in hard times and Positive linkage for urbanites with the past Is rural becoming what urban is? Urban institutions are permeating the countryside, Urban values are replacing rural values and Urban technology infiltrating rural areas: resulting in mechanisation of rural areas laying off farm workers.  Characteristics of a rural area within SA Characteristics of rural areas in South Africa: Poverty Vulnerability Inaccessibility to basic services Low population density Isolation Economic and social character Initially rural areas focused on the extraction of natural resources and agriculture. Presently ecotourism, pro-poor tourism and Community based Tourism (CBT). Views the conservation of natural resources, and socio- economic development (and poverty alleviation) as mutually compatible. Why is it important to understand what the term “rural” means? Important for efficient rural development strategies and policy development. To avoid Eurocentric development strategies Avoid the loss of rural identity and cultural values To ensure that development is based on the knowledge and needs of the people residing in their respective rural communities (Indigenization of development)  SA UK Texas India  Finally THE TERM RURAL IS AMBIGUOUS THERE IS NO EXACT DEFINITION, BUT RURAL AREAS CAN BE MIDDLE HARD TO DEFINE PRECISELY, HIGHLY IT IS RECOGNISABLE. COUNTRYSIDE OR REMOTE. HETEROGENEOUS AND RESISTANT TO GENERALIZATION. Important readings for this section Chigbu, U. E. (2013). Rurality as a choice: Towards ruralising rural areas in sub-Saharan African countries. Development Southern Africa, 30(6), 812-825. Ward, N., & Brown, D. L. (2009). Placing the rural in regional development. Regional studies, 43(10), 1237- 1244. Adair, J. G. (1992). Empirical studies of indigenization and development of the discipline in developing countries. In S.Iwawaki, Y. Kasima, & K. Leung (Eds.), Innovations in cross-cultural psychology (pp.62-74). Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger.