Sociologia Ruralis

Published by Wiley

Online ISSN: 1467-9523

·

Print ISSN: 0038-0199

Articles


The Importance of ‘The Rural’ in the Constitution of Counterurbanization: Evidence from England in the 1980s
  • Article

February 1994

·

95 Reads

"This paper...argues that a reconciliation between...different explanations of counterurbanization can possibly be achieved, but will require the pursuit of a more nuanced analysis of the detailed unfolding of the migration process. Such an analysis involves examining the migration from the migrant's perspective. In particular, we need to recognize the variety of both spatial scales and experiential environments that may be involved in any one act of migration." The geographic focus is on England.
Share

Population problems and family planning in Africa

February 1972

·

11 Reads

PIP Focus is on the population problems in Africa and what the African peoples and governments are doing about these problems. The position of this writer is that there is definitely a population problem in Africa. Those who take the opposing view support their arguments by looking at the following indicators: population density and pressure, undeveloped resources, the availability of empty lands, and alleged intrigue by external forces. Few governments have population control policies and/or national family planning programs. These countries include Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, and the United Arab Republic. Currently, governments of black African countries for the greater part either support family planning programs or allow such efforts to exist under private auspices. Of the 35 African countries and territories covered by the United States Agency for International Development report, only the governments of Cameroon, Malagasy, and Malawi have stated explicitly that they want to encourage population growth. In all surveys in East Africa, the ideal family size was more than 5 and generally 6 children. In Ghana and Nigeria, the ideal size was 7 or more. Generally, the ideal family size in Black Africa ranges from 6-8 children, but the influences of urbanization and education in West Africa reduced the ideal family size to between 4 and 6. Abstinence, herbs, and withdrawal are widely known in traditional African society though withdrawal was little used as a contraceptive method. Regarding modern contraceptive methods, the most knowledgeable group is the urban elites. Below the elite, the knowledge level is very low. There is little contraceptive practice in Africa.

Rural migration and counterurbanization in the European periphery: The case of Andaluc??a

May 1997

·

320 Reads

The extent to which counterurbanization is affecting rural population dynamics in southern Europe is explored using the example of Andalucia, Spain. "The purpose of this paper is to ask, in the context of Andalucia, whether an emergent counterurbanization trend is evident in a traditional area of rural population decline in southern Europe. More broadly, it raises questions about whether the concept counterurbanization helps or hinders our understanding of rural migration."

Migration from an Indian village: an anthropological approach

February 1977

·

12 Reads

In this article it is argued that the ‘micro’ approach of the anthropologist to the study of rural social structures may contribute to the study of local patterns of migration. Unfortunately, few social anthropologists working in the Indian sub‐continent (unlike Africanist anthropologists) have shown much interest in the position of the urban migrant in the rural social structure. Even so, the information available reveals a number of patterns of migration in India. The response to the general pressure on land is not everywhere the same. In the village studied by the audior it has mainly been the better educated members of the landowning Brahman caste who migrate. The low caste villagers with little land or education do not have the qualifications to obtain better employment in the towns than they can obtain in the village, where the demand for labour for construction work is very high at present. The migrants retain a stake in the power structure of the village and are therefore unlikely to act as agents for radical social or cultural change. On the other hand, the migrants are committed to the village as a place rather than to agriculture as an occupation. They do not invest their savings in buying more land nor in the improvement of the land they already have. Therefore, they help to perpetuate for their children the very conditions which caused them to migrate in the first place. Résumé Dans cet article on montre que ľétude anthropologique «micro» des structures sociales rurales peut contribuer áľ etude des courants locaux de migration. Malheureusement, àľ'encontre des «Africanistes», peu de socio‐anthropologistes travajllant sur le sub‐continent ont montrd beaucoup ? intérêt pour la position du migrant rural dans la structure rurale. Même ainsi, les informations disponibles révèlent tout un nombre de charactéristiques des migrations aux Indes. La réactdon à la pression générale n'est pas partout la même. Dans le village étudié par ľ auteur, ce sont les propriétaires fonciers de la caste Brahman, mieux éduqués, qui émigrent. Les villageois de castes inférieures n'ont pas les qualifications nécessaires pour obtenir en ville un meilleur emploi qu'au village, oùàľ heure actuelle la demande pour la main‐d'oeuvre du bâtiment est très forte. Les immigrants conservent un role dans la structure du pouvoir villageois. Il est done peu probable qu'ils agissent en faveur de modifications culturelles ou sociales abruptes. ? autre part, ils considèrent le village avant tout comme un lieu de résidence et ne portent pas ? intérêt àľ agriculture comme occupation. Ils n'investissent pas leurs épargnes dans ľ achat de terres ou dans ľ amélioration des terres qu'ils possédent déjà. Pour cette raison, ils tendent à perpetuer pour leurs enfants les conditions mêmes qui les avaient pousséàémigrer. Zusammenfassung In diesem Artikel wird argumentiert, daß der „Mikro'‐Ansatz des Anthropologen zur Untersuchung ländlicher sozialer Strukturen zum Studium lokaler Wanderungsmuster beitragen könnte. Unglücklicherweise haben nur wenige Anthropologen, die im indischen Subkontinent arbeiten (ungleich Afrikanisten) viel Interesse an der Stellung der städtischen Einwanderer in der ländlichen Sozialstruktur gezeigt. Dennoch offenbart das vorhandene Informationsmaterial eine Anzahl von Wanderungsmustern in Indien. Die Antwort auf den allgemeinen Druck aufs Land ist nicht überall diesselbe. In dem vom Autor untersuchten Dorf waren es hauptsächlich die gebildeteren Mitglieder der landbesitzenden Brahman‐Kaste, die auswanderten. Die Dorfbewohner der niederen Kaste mit wenig Land oder Bildung haben nicht die notwendigen Qualifikationen, um in den Städten bessere Beschäftigung zu erhalten als im Dorf, wo die Nachfrage nach Arbeitskräften für den Bau gegenwärtig sehr hoch ist. Die Auswanderer behalten einen Anteil in der Machtstruktur des Dorfes zurück und daher ist es unwahrscheinlich, daß sie sich als Urheber radikalen sozialen oder kulturellen Wandels betätigen. Andererseits sind die Auswanderer eher an das Dorf als einen Ort als an die Landwirtschaft als eine Beschäftigung gebunden. Sie investieren ihre Ersparnisse weder in den Kauf von mehr Land, noch in die Verbesserung des Landes, das sie bereits besitzen. Auf diese Weise tragen sie dazu bei, für ihre Kinder die besonderen Umstände fortbestehen zu lassen, welche sie in erster Linie veranlaßten, auszuwandern.

Population, territory, environment: a new challenge for social regulation

February 1991

·

19 Reads

PIP Trends affecting the rural population of France over the past 20 years are reviewed. These include the increase in second or vacation homes, the temporary occupation of several primary residences, the growth of urban fringes, and the structural transformation of populations in remote rural areas. Attempts by outsiders to lay claim to territory in formerly remote areas such as the mountain regions, and the consequent risk of conflict with local inhabitants, are noted. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER).

On Household Composition in Northwestern Portugal - Some Critical Remarks and a Case-Study

February 1986

·

9 Reads

PIP An analysis of household composition and family forms in Portugal is presented using data from the 1960 census for the Minho region. The author questions the hypothesis that identifies a broad regional distinction between a stem family household formation system in the northwest and a neo-local system in the Mediterranean region of the country. The importance of differences in household within the region examined is stressed using the example of the parish of Urgeses in 1878. (summary in FRE, GER).

The counter-urbanization process: demographic restructuring and policy response in rural England

February 1991

·

16 Reads

The authors examine the impact of counterurbanization in England. They "try and unravel how household turnover and in-migration selectivity are effecting rural change, and how local communities and policy-makers are responding to that change, in a number of villages in East Northamptonshire, a rural district in the heart of 'shire' England." The focus is on the extent to which the incoming households differ from those they replace, thus changing the socioeconomic characteristics of the rural population. The impact of such migration on the housing market is noted.

Demographic patterns and rural society in Portugal: implications of some recent research

February 1986

·

11 Reads

"The essay outlines some possible implications of recent research on demographic patterns for the historical study of rural society in Portugal. The first part is devoted to a summary of population trends since the 16th century, and the need for aggregative studies based on parish registers is emphasised." The author argues "that the available evidence suggests the pertinence of a regional perspective, in which variation across space is given as much prominence as change over time. A number of regional patterns--in mortality, fertility and nuptiality--are described and shown to be associated with regionally specific patterns of household organization. Some implications are suggested of the fact that this regional configuration of family forms and demographic patterns appears to have been in existence and to have persisted since the 16th century." (summary in FRE, GER)

Labour migration and rural development in Egypt. A study of return migration in six villages

February 1993

·

27 Reads

The article outlines some results of research on the impact of return migration on social change in the Egyptian countryside. Fieldwork was done in six villages situated in three different provinces in 1987/88. During the last two decades oil wealth in the Arab Gulf countries has drawn people from all strata of Egyptian society into the international labour market. Between 19 and 43 per cent of households in the villages concerned have some external migration experience. Within the more general framework of economic liberalization introduced in the Sadat era, international labour migration is related to structural change in village society. Workers' remittances are mainly used for construction and consumption purposes. Investment of remittances is less developed. Returning migrants are not entrepreneurs per se, but they are also searching for income sources and there is a great deal of initiative and potential for investment in agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, transport and service activities. The assumption underlying this analysis is that channeling savings into rural development is possible provided adequate support facilities for small enterprise development exist.

Emigrating peasants and returning emigrants: emigration with return in a Portuguese village

February 1986

·

17 Reads

On the basis of a study carried out in a village in the interior of rural Portugal, this article attempts to distinguish the elements of a peasant strategy of emigration centred upon the development and expansion of the family agricultural holding through earnings obtained from work in France, which has as its medium term aim return to the rural community. Priority is given to the observation of the social practices of actors in the emigration process, through the reconstitution of individual and family trajectories of returnees, or those in the process of doing so. The impact of their social and economic investment in the rural community is also considered. We conclude that emigration with return is directed towards the remodelling of local structures. Recourse is had to specific forms of relation with work abroad, amongst which the departure of the household head alone and seasonality in the final phase of emigration are distinguished. The practice of pluri-activity based on two quite distinct and distant socio-geographical contexts, makes viable a rural area which would otherwise have long been compromised through the process of social and demographic bleeding to which it was subjected. Sur base ?une recherche menée dans un village de ľintérieur du Portugal, cet article tente de mettre à jour des éléments ?une stratégic paysanne ?émigration, stratégic qui serait centrée sur le développement et ľextension de ľexploitation agricole familiale, gràce aux revenus du travail en France, celui-ci étant perçu comme devant, à moyen terme, conduire à un retour à la communauté?origine. On a reconstituteé les trajectoires familiales et individuelles ?émi-grés qui sont revenus ou qui sont sur le point de le faire, ce qui permet de décrire les pratiques sociales des acteurs dans le processus ?émigration. On étudie aussi ľimpact économique et social sur la communauté villageoise. Ľémigration avec retour tend à remodeler les structures sociales locales: parmi les formes particuliè-res de relation au travail àľétranger, il y a notamment le départ du seul chef de famille, et les migrations saisonnières, surtout en phase finale. Et la pluri-activité, basée sur deux contextes socio-géographiques très different? et très éloignés, est ce qui permet de maintenir la viabilityé?une région rurale qui, sans cela, aurait ét profondement affectée par ľhémorragie sociale et démographique qu'elle a subie. Gestützt auf eine Studie in einem Dorf im Innern Portugals versucht dieser Beitrag die Elemente einer bäuerlichen Auswanderungsstrategie zu charakterisieren, die darauf abzielt, mit Hilfe des Einkommens aus einer Erwerbstätigkeit in Frankreich, wobei mittelfristig die Rückkehr in die ländliche Gemeinde angestrebt wird, den bäuerlichen Familienbetrieb zu entwickeln und aufzustocken. Das Hauptaugenmerk ist auf die Beobachtung des sozialen Verhaltens im Rahmen des Auswanderungsprozesses gerichtet, indem die individuellen und familiären Verläufe der Rückwanderung oder jener, die im Begriff sind diese vorzunehmen, rekonstruiert werden. Es wird auch die Bedeutung ihrer sozialen und ökonomischen Investitionen in der ländli-chen Gemeinde untersucht. Schlußfolgerung ist, daß Auswanderung mit Rückkehr auf die Wiederherstellung örtlicher sozialer Strukturen gerichtet ist. Es werden hinsichtlich der Beziehungen zur Arbeit im Ausland einzelne Formen gebildet, wobei die Auswanderung des Haushaltsvorstandes alleine und saisonale Wanderungen in der Endphase des Emigra-tionsprozesses unterschieden werden. Die Praxis der Pluriaktivität in zwei völlig unter-schiedlichen und von einander entfernten sozialen Kontexten erhält ein ländliches Gebiet lebensfähig, das sonst längst gefährdet wäre durch einen Prozess der sozialen und demogra-phischen Ausblutung, dem es unterworfen ist.

Recent trends and future prospects of urban-rural migration in Europe

February 1991

·

14 Reads

In the context of presently deveoped nations, it is the process of migration which has emerged as the principal factor in sub-national population growth rate differentials. The reason for this is simply the emergence of sustained low levels of fertility in all such nations over the past several decades and the consequent reduction in the role which natural increase might play in internal population redistribution. It is the purpose of this paper to review this aspect of population redistribution in the context of movement between urban or metropolitan places and rural (or non-metropolitan) places, with particular reference to the European situation. More specifically, this paper will touch upon the influences of demographic, social, economic and environmental variables and assess the consequences of this migration behaviour for future trends in population redistribution. -Author

Urban exodus: urban-rural and rural-rural migration in Gobir (Niger)
  • Article
  • Full-text available

February 1977

·

111 Reads

During the colonial period not the well known phenomenon of rural exodus but migration from town to country was typical for the province of Gobir and for Niger as a whole. We can as well observe considerable migration between villages. It is the aim of this article to analyze the political reasons for this phenomenon. In consequence of the permanent state of war in Gobir during the 19th century, people prefered settling in fortified places. The South of Gobir was, due to to the raids of Fulani, uninhabited. Since the French occupation at the beginning of this century we observe an urban exodus and migration from village to village which result in the clearing of bushland and the foundation of many new villages. Besides economical reasons like the renewal of shifting cultivation the migration is caused by political factors. The peasants try to avoid the pressures of the administration by putting as much distance as possible between them and the centers of administration and by constant mobility. These migrations finish during the fifties and sixties. The administrative bodies are now able to control the whole territory especially by improving the census system. Politically motivated migration has now become senseless and has given way to resignation. Résumé Pendant ľ dpoque coloniale le Niger et la province Gobir ont vu au lieu du bien connu «exode rural» un exode urbain et des migrations entre des villages. Dans cet article j'analyse les raisons politdques pour ce phénomène. Au 19ème siècle la répartition de la population était conditionée par Ies guerres permanentes. La population vivait dans des villages fortifyés. Le Sud du Gobir, ouvert aux attaques Peulh, n'était pas peuplé. Dés le début de ľ occupation françhise on assiste à un exode urbain et à de nombreuses migrations entre villages. II en résulte une colonisation de la brousse et la création de nombreux villages. Le facteur politique joue un rôle important dans ces migrations. Les paysans prennent distance vis à vis des centres administratifs. Leur mobilityé a souvent pour but de se soustraire aux exigences administratives. Dans les années 50 et 60 ces migrations devieannent de plus en plus rares. Le contro̧le administratif devient plus strict grâce surtout à un recensement correct. Les migrations ne constituent plus une réaction efficace contre ľ administration. Elles font plutôt place à la résignation. Zusammenfassung Nicht das gewohnte Phänomen der Landflucht sondern Stadtflucht war während der Kolonialzeit für die Provinz Gobir und Niger insgesamt typisch. Ebenso waren starke Wanderungsbewegungen zwischen Dörfern zu beobachten. In diesem Aufsatz analysiere ich die politischen Gründe für dieses Phänomen. Im Gobir des 19. Jh. war die Siedlung in befestigten Orten durch den permanenten Kriegszustand bedingt. Gobir war im Süden, dem Einfallgebiet der Fulbe, nicht besiedelt. Seit Beginn der Kolonialzeit sind ein städtischer Exodus und Dorf‐Dorf‐Wanderungen zu beobachten, die eine land‐wirtschaftliche Erschließung des Busches und zahlreiche Dorfgründungen zur Folge haben. Neben ökonomischen Gründen (Wiederaufnahme des Wanderfeldbaus) sind für diese Wanderungen politische Faktoren maßgebend. Die Bauern versuchen sich den Anforderungen der Verwaltung zu entziehen, indem sie eine möglichst große Distanz zwischen sich und die Verwaltungszentren legen und ständig den Wohnort wechseln. Diese Migrationen gehcn in den 50er und 60er Jahren zu Ende. Die Verwaltung setzt ihre Kontrolle über das ganze Territorium durch (vor allem durch Verbesserung des Zensus‐Systems). Politisch motivierte Migrationen werden jetzt sinnlos und machen Resignation Platz.
Download

[Fertility and family planning among nomads]

February 1976

·

9 Reads

In 1973 a random sample study was done in the south of Iran on 2930 married couples of the Qashigi tribe. It was to determine the fertility, knowledge, and practice of contraception, and attitudes toward birth control of this nomadic group. The fertility study involved 2167 women, aged 15-44. Early marriage is the norm, with 80% of them taking place before the age of 20 and the ideal age being 17. The average number of pregnancies per woman was 4.3; the ideal number of children was 6.1 (4.3 sons and 1.9 daughters). 92% felt the size of the family depended on the will of God. Also, families who had lost fewer children indicated a smaller number of children as an ideal. Of the 67% of married persons who had heard of family planning, 17% approved of it, but only about 2% practiced some form. The patrilineal system encourages high fertility. Social values and customs help relieve the pressure on parents for raising the children by thenselves.

Population Movements and Integrated Rural Development

February 1979

·

30 Reads

This paper explores the relationship between population movements and integrated rural development. After brief consideration of types of population movements and the methodology of migration studies, particular attention is given to the research conclusions and implications of migration between rural and urban areas. The‘ argument is made that integrated rural development is most unlikely to serve as a significant means of slowing city growth. Understanding the process of rural‐urban migration at the local and national level is essential for rural development planning and implementation. This requires going beyond simple perspectives of migration as a response to “pressure” of resources and population in an area, to an appreciation of how population movements relate to the culture, systems of stratification, work relationships, family and other organizational ties within the rural community, along with intercommunity ties with other rural and urban areas. Resume Cet article explore le rapport entre mouvements de population et développement rural intégral. Après un bref aperçu des différents types de mouvements de population et de la méthodologie d'études des migrations de peuples, l'article en vient surtout à la fluctuation entre des régions rurales et urbaines et aux conséquences qui s'ensuivent. II est dit, qu'un développement rural intégral semble être le moins adapté pour ralentir la croissance des villes. La compréhension du processus du mouvement campagne‐ville sur un échelon local et national est indispensable pour la planification et la réalisation d'un développement rural. Cela exige qu'il faille aller au‐delà des simples perspectives de mouvements de population comme réponse à la «pression» des moyens existants et de la population d'une région pour arriver à voir la relation entre migrations de peuples et culture, systémes de stratification, rapports de travail, famille et autres liens organisés à l'intérieur d'une commune rurale, et aussi les liens avec d'autres communes dans des regions rurales et urbaines. Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel analysiert den Zusammenhang zwischen Bevölkerungs‐bewegungen und integrierter ländlicher Entwicklung. Nach kurzem Eingehen auf Arten der Bevölkerungsbewegungen und der Methodologie der Studien über Völkerwanderungen, wird der Fluktuation zwischen ländlichen und städtischen Gebieten und den hieraus resultie‐renden Schlußfolgerungen besondere Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet. Es wird argumentiert, daß integrierte ländliche Entwicklung am wenigsten dazu geeignet erscheint, das Wachstum der Städte zu verlangsamen. Das Verstehen des Prozesses der Land‐Stadt Wanderung auf lokaler und nationaler Ebene ist unabdingbar für die Planung und Durchführung ländlicher Entwicklung. Dies erfordert, daß man über einfache Darstellungen der Bevölkerungsbewegungen als Antwort auf “Druck” scitens der vorhandenen Ressourcen und der Bevölkerung einer Region hinausgeht, hin zu einer Anerkennung der Beziehung zwischen Wanderungen und Kultur, Stratifikationssystemen, Arbeits‐beziehungen, Familie und anderen organisierten Bindungen innerhalb einer ländlichen Gemeinde, und auch Bindungen zu anderen Ge‐meinden in landlichen und städrischen Gegenden.

Rural-urban migration in the USSR: problems and prospects

February 1984

·

8 Reads

This article describes the major phases in rural‐urban migration within the USSR and discusses successive policies towards this phenomenon since 1927. The outcomes and socioeconomic consequences of these massive migration waves have been variously appraised in scientific and socio‐political debates. Partly on the basis of studies of migration decision making, the authors discuss the dynamics of rural‐urban migration and detect some probable trends for its future development. Résumé L'article décrit ľévolution générate des migrations rurales vers les villes en URSS et les diverses politiques qui ont été appliquées depuis 1927. Le résultat et les impacts socio‐économiques de ces migrations massives ont fait ľ objet d apréciations variées dans les discussions tant scientifiqucs que socio‐politiques. C'est en se basant sur des etudes des decisions de migration que les auteurs developpent une analyse de la dynamique de ces migrations et esquissent les tendances probables dans ľ avenir. Kurzfassung In diesem Artikel werden die wichtigsten Phasen der Land‐Stadt‐Wanderung in der UdSSR seit 1927 beschrieben und die aufeinander folgenden Haltungen der Politik gegenüber diescm Phanomen diskutiert. Die Ergebnisse und soziookonomischen Folgen der groβen Wanderungswellen wurden verschicdentlich in wissenschaftlichen und sozialpolitischen Debatten eincr Bewcrtung unterzogen. Die Autorcn diskutieren ‐ teilweise gestützt auf Studien über das Entscheidungsverhalten bei Wanderungcn ‐ die Dynamik von Land‐Stadt‐Wanderungen und entdecken einige problematische Trends mit Blick auf die zukiinf‐tige Entwicklung.

Rural population—rural vitality

February 1991

·

21 Reads

PIP The state of rural demography is explored, with a focus on the general lack of interest among demographers in studying rural populations. Consideration is given to problems in constructing standard definitions of rural populations, given the great geographical diversity of rural ares around the world. Recent trends in rural-urban migration are also examined.

Centre for European agricultural studies

February 1978

·

6 Reads

Conceived in 1972, established in 1974, and housed in its new building by September 1975, the Centre for European Agricultural Studies at Wye College aims to provide research and seminar programmes focused on the study of the food and agricultural industries of Europe.

THE CHANGING CHARACTER OF AGRICULTURAL SYNDICATES IN AVEYRON, 1944–1960

March 2008

·

11 Reads

During the 1950's the character of agricultural syndicalism in France was transformed by the arrival of a new generation of militant farmers from the geographically and economically peripheral regions of France. This paper examines the chronology, causes and consequences of this process in one department of France, Aveyron, and argues that an understanding of the social history of agricultural organisations in France is essential to a fuller appreciation of their current role and preoccupations. Durant les années cinquante, le syndicalisme agricole franfais s'est transformé du fait de ľ irruption ? une nouvelle génération de militants agriculteurs à partir des régions périphériques (spatialement et éconoraiquement) de la France. Cet article détaille la chronologie, les causes et les conséquences de ce processus dans le cas du département de ľ Aveyron. II tend à démontrer qu'on ne peut comprendre pleinement le role et les préoccupations des organisations agricoles sans avoir fait cette histoire sociale des organisations. Während der 50er Jahre hat sich das Wesen der landwirtschaftlichen Interessenverbände in Frankreich durch das Auftreten einer neuen Generation militanter Bauern aus den räumlich und ökonomisch peripheren Regionen Frankreichs verändert. Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Chronologie, Ursachen und Folgen dieses Prozesses in dem Departement Aveyron und schlußfolgert, daß das Verständnis der Sozialgeschichte des landwirtschaftlichen Organisationswesens in Frankreich entscheidend ist für das Erkennen seiner gegenwärtigen Rolle und Hauptbetätigungsfelder.

Norwegian agricultural policy and the family farm, 1945-1982.

March 2008

·

242 Reads

This article explores agricultural policies in an advanced capitalist country. It starts with the introduction of a model of family farming and explores the role of state intervention in agriculture. From these theoretical considerations the article proceeds to analyse Norwegian agricultural policy after the World War II. Two major periods arc observed. The first, lasting from 1945 to 1975, was marked by state support for extending production on some units and draining away the superfluous labour force from the others. The second lasting from 1975 to the early eighties, and called “the new agricultural policy”, was characterized by emphasis on national self‐sufficiency, support for small farms and marginal regions and equalization between farmers and manufacturing workers. Finally the consequences of this new agricultural policy arc analysed showing that it promotes overproduction and new rich farmers. A paradox emerges, showing that the concequences of the new agricultural policy legitimates state intervention of the “old” type (structure rationalization). Résumé čet article concernc les politiques agricolcs dans un pays capitaliste développé. ľauteur présente ?abord un modéle ?analysc de ľagriculture familiale et du rôle de ľintervention etatique dans ľagriculture; il analyse ensuite la politique agricole norvégienne depuis la seconde guerre mondialc. II distingue deux grandes périodes. La premiére, qui va de 1945 à 1975, se caractérise par Paction de ľEtat en faveur ?un accroissement de la production dans certaincs fermes, et ?une réduction de la main ?oeuvre dans ?autres. La seconde période, à partir de 1975, voit ľEtat mettre ľaccent sur ľauto‐suffisance alimentaire, Ic soutien des petites exploitations et ľégalisation des revenus des agriculteurs avec les catégories ouvriéres. ľanalyse des effcrs de cctte nouvelle politique conduit à constater quelle favorise la surproduction ?une part, et les agriculteurs riches ?autre part. Situation paradoxale done, dans laquelle les conséquences de la nouvelle politique tendent à légitimer ľintervention rationalisatricc typique de ľancienne politique agricole. Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel untersucht mögliche agrarpolitische Maßnahmen in einem fortgeschrittenen kapitalistischen Land. Er beginnt mit der Vorstellung eines Modells der Familienbetricbs‐Landwirtschaft und untersucht die Rolle der staatlichen Intervention in der Landwirtschaft. Von diescn theoretischen überlegungen wird übcrgegangen zu den norwegischen Agrar‐politik nach dem 2. Weltkricg, wobei die Hauptperiodcn betrachtet werden. Die erste dauerte von 1945 bis 1975 und war gekennzeichnet durch staatliche Unterstützung für die Ausweitung der Produktion bei einigen Untemehmen und Abzug von überflüssigcn Arbeitskräften bei anderen. Die zweite dauerte von 1975 bis in die frühen achtziger Jahre und wurde “die neue Agrarpolitik” genannt. Schwergewicht wurde auf die nationale Selbsrversorgung, Unterstützung für Kleinbettiebe und benachteiligte Gcbietc und eine Angleichung zwischen Landwirten und Industriearbeitern gelegt. Schließlich werden die Konsequenzen dieser ncuen Agrarpolitik analysiert, wobei deutlich wird, daß sic überproduktion und neue reiche Landwirte fördert. Ein Paradox wird darin deutlich, daß die Konsequenzen der neuen Agrarpolitik staatliche Interventionen der “alten” Art (Struktur‐verbesserung) legitimieren.

WOMEN AND AGRARIAN REFORM: CHILE, 1964–1973*

March 2008

·

48 Reads

Chile (1964–1973) provides one of the few examples of large scale agrarian reform conducted legally in a non-socialist country. The literature on this experience is extensive, but no analysis systematically considers the implications of the Chilean case for the integration of women into the agrarian reform or rural development processes. The purpose of this paper is to consider the factors which influenced the role of Chilean women in agrarian reform. The principal topics considered are: the objectives of reform under Frei (1964–1970) and Allendc (1970–1973); provisions of agrarian reform legislation; and changes in reformed units during rhe Allende administration. The final section considers changes which were, and were not, possible that would have enhanced the participation of women in the reformed units and the roles of women as agricultural producers. Le Chili (1964–1973) constitue un des quelques exemples d'une réforme agraire dc grande amplcur, conduite par des voies légales dans un pays non socialiste. Une abondantc littérature existe sur le sujet, mais on ne dispose d'aucune étude systématique centrée sur les implications de l'expérience chilicnne quant à l'intégration des femmes dans la réforme agraire ou le processus de développement rural. L'objet de cet article est d'examiner les facreurs qui conditionncnt le rôle des femmes dans la réforme agraire chilienne. Les principaux thèmes traités sont les suivants: les objectifs de la réforme agraire sous Frei (1964–1970) et Allende (1970–1973); lesapports de la législation de réforme agraire; les changements observés sous l'administration Allende. La dernière partie précise les changements, possibles ou non, qui auraient pu accroître la participation des femmes dans les exploitations concernées par la réforme, et valoriser leur rôle comme producteurs agricoles. Chile (1964–1973) stellt eines der wenigen Bcispiele einer groß angelegten, legal durchge-führten Agrarreform in einem nichtsozialistischen Land dar. Es gibt einc umfangreiche Literatur über dieses Experiment, aber keine Analyse untcrsucht systematise!) am Falle Chile die Implilcationen für die Integration der Frauen in die Agrarreform oder den Prozess der ländlichen Enrwicklung. Das Anlicgen dieses Beitrages ist es, zu untersuchen, welche Faktoren die Rolle der Frau in der Agrarreform beeinflußt haben. Vor allem werden betrachtet: die Ziele der Reform unter Frei (1964–1970) und Allende (1970–1973); die Bestimmungen in der Gesetzgebung zur Agrarreform, die Veränderungen in den durch die Agrarreform geschaffenen Betrieben unter Allende. Im letzten Teil werden die Veränderungen untcrsucht, die möglich waren und auch nicht möglich waren, um der Partizipation der Frauen und ihrer Rolle als landwirtschaftliche Produzcnten in den neugebildten Betrieben einen höheren Stellenwcrt zu geben.

Changes in ways of making a living among Norwegian farmers, 1975-1990

March 2008

·

36 Reads

Explores different farming strategies among Norwegian family farmers, especially how farm households are adapting to the off-farm labour market. To explore changes in survival strategies, a farming typology is developed. The period after 1975 has been characterized by a new policy to equalize incomes between farmers and industrial workers and to provide support to small farms and marginal regions in Norway. One of the consequences of this programme has been overproduction. Many farm families have been forced to seek off-farm jobs. Thus, the proportion of part- and spare-time farms has grown during the past decade. Today, part-time farming accounts for the majority of Norwegian farms. The surviving full-time farms have been able to enlarge reproduction of owned capital. Holdings that fail to enlarge their own capital are dependent upon wage income. -Author

Farm poverty in France during the 1980s

June 2008

·

36 Reads

In France, agricultural poverty was widespread until the 19th century. It was believed to have disappeared following the important structural transformations after WWII. The aspects of poverty have however, changed with the advent of a more affluent society. Using the 1984 tax revenue survey and the 1984-85 household budget survey, Assemat and Glaude (1989) found that 43% of agricultural households in 1984, and 53% in 1984-85 had a disposable income per consumer unit (UC) less than half the median disposable income. Agricultural households were the socio-professional category with the highest percentage of poor. These sources tend to underestimate farmers' total income. The authors examine whether or not it is possible to establish a credible rate of farm poverty. The authors use the concept of relative poverty following the economic approach. -from Authors

Rurality in England and Wales 1991: A Replication and Extension of the 1981 Rurality Index

December 2002

·

408 Reads

This paper sets out to create rurality indexes for 222 non-urban Local Authority Districts (LADs) in England and Wales 1991, replicating the earlier work of Cloke (1977) and Cloke and Edwards (1986) for 1971 and 1981 respectively. The same technique is employed to generate the rurality indices for 1991 as that used by those previous researchers. The results for 1991 are then compared to those for 1981, illustrating the robustness of the rurality index. Despite the robustness of the rurality index, it was felt that too much of the variation in rurality was left unexplained by the previous construction. Therefore, principal components analysis is used to identify two new dimensions of rurality: Structural Rurality and Demographic Rurality. The remainder of the paper investigates the ways in which these new, or additional, indices of rurality may prove useful to the further study of change in rural areas of England and Wales.

Forging Linkages in the Commodity Chain: The Case of the Chilean Salmon Farming Industry, 1987–2001

April 2003

·

175 Reads

In this paper we use the global commodity chain perspective to analyse the Chilean salmon farming industry. This industry reflects current shifts in the global agro-food sector in that food distribution and retail sectors assume a significant role at the ‘back-end’ of the farmed salmon global commodity chain. Economic concentration is also occurring along the ‘front-end’ of the chain; foreign fish feed capital is integrating forwards into production and thereby assuming greater influence. This is matched by greater economic concentration by foreign and local salmon farming companies in the middle of the chain. Local capital is meeting the challenge of foreign capital by using flexible strategies in the service sector of the salmon farming industry. We also discuss the impact of the farmed salmon global commodity chain on class and gender relations at the point of production. In our conclusions, we discuss the limitations of the global commodity chain perspective as well as the consequences of salmon farming for livelihoods in rural Chile.

Cracking the Glass Ceiling: The Story of the Election Process in the Norwegian Farmers Union in 1997

December 2002

·

25 Reads

The main issue in this article is whether cracking the glass ceiling of the Norwegian Farmers Union indicates a ‘new’ organization based on equal opportunities between the sexes. By way of illustration, different meanings of gender and leadership embedded in the rhetoric and arguments produced in the process leading to the election of the first woman president are analysed. The rhetorics expressed by the press, the election committee and the candidates are deconstructed. The analysis indicates that the organization is becoming less discriminatory, and that both women’s and men’s range of possibilities have increased. The gender perspective suggests that concrete changes depend on who participates in the discussions, their perception of gender, their conceptions of leadership, and their visions for the organization.

Top-cited authors