Rural place matters!

Why take the rural perspective into account? 

The rural perspective is important to take into account in many different research, policy and practice contexts. For example, rural areas are constantly evolving influenced by trends such as how we live in a more global world. This calls for new research and adapted policies. European rural areas also face major societal and longstanding challenges that need policy attention such as depopulation and unemployment.  

The FLIARA project’s Conceptual Framework included the rural perspective as one of its core underpinning parts. This is because rural places and the processes at work within them interact to create unique circumstances for women. The rural reality experienced by women leading innovations can differ for example if they are working from a remote versus more urban-connected rural area. Some rural areas are more interconnected to the global world and this can impact the opportunities available to women leading innovations. 

What do the Rural Perspective Concept Notes provide?  

• Useful building blocks and ideas to frame consideration of rural places, their unique concerns and issues in research, policy and practice contexts.  

• They assess how the specific rural-related concepts can be applied. Other aspects included are how concepts are often debated and key critiques around the concepts are discussed.  

• Specific attention is also paid to the concepts relevance to gender and policy, as well as the FLIARA project more broadly.  

Explore the Concept Notes to learn more:  

• Read FLIARA’s Concept Note No.1 on Rural Development to understand more about how rural development is a multifaceted process that aims to improve rural areas’ social, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions 

• Concept Note No.2 focuses on the issue of Rural and Urban Divide and discusses how there are different types of ways to look at ‘the rural’, such as focusing on rural communities or examining entire rural regions, including small cities. Understanding the rural urban divide is important because different types of countryside have different potential for transformation, development and change. 

• Concept Note No.3 explores the issues of Globalisation/De-Globalisation and the relevance of understanding their effects on change in rural places. De-globalisation is a reaction to individuals feeling powerless to shape their lives. 

• Concept Note No.4 explores the idea of Rural Restructuring, Differentiation, Development. Rural restructuring has made rural communities in industrialised countries increasingly multifunctional, defined by a combination of production, consumption, and/or conservation values. Rural restructuring impacts the lives of rural dwellers in rural areas.  

Read the full concept notes in the FLIARA Conceptual Framework report, see pages 60-67.