The module aims to critically explore the nature of rural community, land-use and planning issues from a socio-economic perspective. It provides an overview of the main social and political issues affecting rural space and rural livelihood both globally and with regard to the specific UK and Wales context. Taking contemporary countryside planning and management issues, the module will integrate theory, policy and practice at different spatial scales (international, national, regional/local). More specifically, the module will (i) address questions relating to the governance of natural resources, and their implications for environmental policy and rural development. In this sense, the module adopts a broad and integrated notion of rural planning; one which situates the practice of planning within its social, political and ecological context; (ii) examine the socio-economic restructuring of rural spaces and communities, and its implications for rural policy, planning and development; and (iii) explore theories relevant to rural planning including aspects of ecological modernisation, multi-level governance, and integrated rural development.

1. Understand the drivers of the diverse trajectories for rural development in the South and in the North of the World;
2. Engage in theoretical, practical and policy debates addressing the changes in rural societies and rural planning at national and supranational level;
3. Evaluate planning strategies and policies, in terms of their contribution to sustainable development for rural areas
4. Demonstrate skills in policy analysis and evaluation, with particular attention to the critical reading of texts;
5. Understand the ways in which the European Union Policies are affecting national and regional rural policies in the UK and Wales;
6. Evaluate the Rural Development Plan initiatives in Wales.

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and one field study visit.

Students will  practise and development the following:

1. Ability to critically engage with the contemporary planning, policy and socio-economic literature on changes affecting rural areas;
2. Ability to critically analyse socio-economic trends in rural areas;
3. Ability to identify problems and conflicts of interest in the management of natural resources and rural land;
4. Ability to understand planning and policy processes affecting rural areas at local, national and supranational level;
5. Skills in group discussion during the seminars;
6. Written communication skills;

• 50% Coursework
• 50% Examination

This module assumes that students may not initially have a clear idea of  the specificity of rural societies,  areas and rural planning /rural development literature. Consequently, it starts with an overview of the diversity of rural areas in the North and in the South of the world, the role of agriculture in promoting development in rural areas, the socio-economic trends in rural areas in Europe and more specifically it will be addressed the role of the European Union, the CAP and the rural development plan  in the UK and Wales.  Moreover, emerging trend in agriculture development will be addressed with the analysis of the development of organic production and fair-trade. Changes in rural population, and diversification of economic activities with  specific attention to issue of sustainable rural development will be analysed via a series of case studies.

All sessions are mandatory.

The following are useful introductory readings for the module as a whole. Each week, additional and more-up-to-date readings will be issued to support the topic being discussed, and these lists will be placed on Learning Central.

Bishop, K. and Phillips, A. (2004) Countryside Planning: New Approaches to management and Conservation, Earthscan 

Cloke, P., Marsden, T. and Moody, P. eds. (2006) Handbook of Rural Studies. Sage, London

Gallent, N., Juntti, M., Kidd, S., and Shaw, D. (2008) Introduction to Rural Planning. Routledge, London

Jackson, P., Ward, N. and Russell, P. (2009) Moral  economies of food and geographies of responsibility,

Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers34, 12-24.

Beverly D. McIntyre, Hans R. Herren, Judi Wakhungu and Robert T. Watson (eds) (2009), Agriculture at a Crossroad, IAASTD North America and Europe, World Bank, Island Press: Washington DC

Milbourne, P. (ed.) (2011) Rural Wales in the Twenty-First Century: Society, Economy and Environment, University of Wales Press,

Murdoch, J. et al (2002) The Differentiated Countryside, Routledge.

Morgan, S., Marsden, T., Miele, M. and Morley, A. (2010) ‘Agricultural Multifunctionality and Farmers' Entrepreneurial Skills: A Study of Tuscan and Welsh Farmers’, Journal of Rural Studies, Vol. 26, n. 2, (116-129).

Ward, N., Jackson, P., Russell, P. and Wilkinson, K. (2008) Productivism, post-productivism and European

agricultural reform: the case of sugar, Sociologia Ruralis 48, 118-32.

Journals

Sociologia Ruralis, Journal of Rural Studies, Rural Sociology, Environment and Planning A, Geoforum, Environement and Planning D, Agriculture and Human Values.