Part Two Developing rural practice
Part One The experience of rurality
In much of the West the concerns of rural people are marginalised and rural issues neglected. This stimulating book draws upon a rich variety of material to show why rural social work is such a challenging field of practice. It incorporates research from different disciplines and places to provide an accessible and comprehensive introduction to rural practice.
The first part of the book focuses upon the experience of rurality. The second part of the book turns to the development of rural practice, reviewing different ways of working from casework through to community development.
This book is relevant to planners, managers and practitioners not only in social work but also in other welfare services such as health and youth work, who are likely to face similar challenges.
Introduction Studies have consistently shown that gender-based violence (GBV) manifests in unique, and often more severe, patterns in rural United States communities. Intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural communities has been shown to be more frequent, severe and lethal than in urban communities ( Bloom et al, 2014 ; Edwards, 2015 ; Reckdenwald et al, 2018 ; DuBois et al, 2019 ). Gallup-Black (2005) , comparing trends in homicide rates from 1980 to 1999, found that family and intimate partner homicide (IPH) rates increased in rural counties, while
It is crucial to distinguish between ‘rural policing’ and ‘policing the rural’. Rural policing refers to offences that are unique to rural environments, such as poaching, rustling, theft of agricultural machinery or certain environmental crimes. Policing the rural draws attention to the idea that rurality is socially constructed. Although meanings of rurality are contested, the hegemonic view is that the countryside is peaceful, idyllic and problem-free. This rural myth contributes to a widely held ideal that the countryside is, or should be, crime-free. This
Worldwide and compared with urban population centres, state penal punishment sanctions have unique and distinct consequences for rural communities and people. The United Nations World Social Report 2021 establishes that extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $USD1.90 a day, is primarily a rural phenomenon. Internationally, four out of five people live in this condition, characterized by increased rates of socio-economic inequality, particularly in the wake of the spread of COVID-19. Even prior to this pandemic, a pattern of global rural spatial
Poverty is perceived as an urban problem, yet many in rural Britain also experience hardship. This book explores how and why people in rural areas experience and negotiate poverty and social exclusion. It examines the role of societal processes, individual circumstances, sources of support (markets; state; voluntary organisations; family and friends) and the role of place.
It concludes that the UK’s welfare system is poorly adapted to rural areas, with the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and cutbacks exacerbating pressures. Voluntary organisations increasingly fill gaps in support left by the state. Invaluable to those in policy and practice, the book recommends a combination of person-based and place-based approaches to tackle rural poverty.
Unpacking the capital This chapter explores how land is used and managed as a resource for rural places and for enhancing rural quality of life. We consider land as a fundamental and finite rural resource with human and non-human dimensions. While land is central to shaping the function, economic role, ecological integrity and quality of life within rural places, its management is also of critical importance in addressing global environmental priorities. These include climate change mitigation and adaptation, addressing biodiversity loss, food and energy
Rural Places and Planning provides a compact analysis for students and early-career practitioners of the critical connections between place capitals and the broader ideas and practices of planning, seeded within rural communities. It looks across twelve international cases, examining the values that guide the pursuit of the ‘good countryside’.
The book presents rural planning – rooted in imagination and reflecting key values – as being embedded in the life of particular places, dealing with critical challenges across housing, services, economy, natural systems, climate action and community wellbeing in ways that are integrated and recognise broader place-making needs. It introduces the breadth of the discipline, presenting examples of what planning means and what it can achieve in different rural places.
