This book examines the multiple ways in which rural regions in Europe are being restructured through globalization and the regional development responses that they have adopted. It provides an understanding of the key challenges and opportunities for rural regions arising from the major economic, social, political and cultural changes associated with globalization, including trade liberalization and economic deregulation, increased international migration, and the rise of global consciousness about environmental issues. Drawing on examples and findings from a major European research project, DERREG, the book presents detailed case studies of ten regions in different parts of Europe, exploring the factors that lead to different experiences of globalization in each of the regions, and highlighting examples of good practice in regional development responses. The book concludes by proposing a typology of regional responses to globalization and considering the policy implications of the research findings. As such, ’Globalization and Europe’s Rural Regions’ is important reading for geographers, sociologists, planners and economists interested in understanding the impact of globalization in rural regions, and for rural development professionals seeking to mobilize effective responses.
Table of Contents
Contents: Globalization and Europe's rural regions - challenge and opportunity; A spatial perspective on small firm networking from a rural periphery - the case of Swedish Norrland; Raising self-efficacy and resilience in the Westerkwartier: the spin-off from collaborative leadership; Managing development with civil society in a globalizing rural; Local cultures of the Ceredigion economy: practices of endogenous development in rural Mid Wales; Constituting connections and rural revitalization in 'The Comarca de VerA-n', Galicia (Spain); Greater globalization challenges - lesser rural responses: the case of Alytus County, Lithuania; Transformation of rural Slovenia: the Pomurje region in search of new development paths; Towards a sustainable regional economy? The Oberlausitz region in transformation; The rural regions of the old-industrialized Saarland - between globalization and regionalization; Globalization and sustainable development in South Moravia; Globalization processes and the restructuring of Europe's rural regions
John McDonagh is a rural geographer in the Discipline of Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), Ireland. Birte Nienaber is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Luxembourg. Michael Woods is a Professor at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales.
’This edited collection takes a relational perspective on globalisation and Europe's rural regions, showing through case studies from nine countries how globalisation is reproduced at the local scale. These are bracketed by an authoritative introduction and conclusion. This book will be helpful to anyone wishing to understand how rural regions are changing in a globalised world, and what scope remains for agency and reflexivity on the part of rural residents.’ Mark Shucksmith OBE, Newcastle University, UK ’If you are interested in the complex realities of globalisation in rural Europe, this is the volume for you. Through ten case studies, well-respected European scholars provide a thought-provoking and critical debate about what globalisation means in theory and practice for Europe’s rural regions.’ Sally Shortall, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland ’Focusing on globalisation and European regions, this book introduces readers to some of the challenges faced by rural societies in contemporary Europe through a comprehensive overview of the foremost forces reshaping rural economies and communities. It provides an important contribution to the debate about future rural development and as such will be essential reading for undergraduate, graduate and PhD students, researchers, professionals and policy makers.’ Imre KovÃ¡ch, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, CSS, Institute of Sociology and University of Debrecen, Hungary