Sociology of Rural Development

The course aims at a holistic and critical approach to the concept of rural development through teaching basic concepts and methodologies for understanding a socially heterogeneous agricultural society. Frame of reference is the Greece and e.u. countries.

Objectives

The course aims at a holistic and critical approach to the concept of rural development. Through teaching basic concepts and methods of the student understands the transformation of rural and social heterogeneity and analyses the characteristics of rural society in the genre, the pace and extent of resulting changes in rural social environment. Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to utilize the theoretical and methodological knowledge to understand the new conditions formed in rural areas and gain the ability to help solve problems to overcome but also in social planning for rural development. Frame of reference is the Greece and e.u. countries.

Prerequisites

Not required.

Syllabus

Theory and method in the study of rural society development concept and theoretical approaches in Sociology of development (modernization theory, critical theories), meaning and principles of social development, identity, locality/local knowledge, community, social change and social structure in rural society, demographic and social problems in rural development (rural exodus, immigrants, gender, ethnicities, social inequality/inclusion and exclusion), the new rurality the multifunctional countryside, social and institutional actors of development/new rural governance, globalisation, family farming and the future of the countryside.