Interest in Rural Studies grew rapidly from the 1970s onwards, partly as a counterbalance to the urban bias of much contemporary social science, and partly in recognition that rural areas were, of course, worthy of study in and of themselves. Initially, Rural Studies sought to examine and understand the fundamental economic, social, political, and cultural impacts of the rapid and many changes taking place in rural territories and communities. However, as the subject has matured, it has also become increasingly interested in how rurality is interconnected with-and implicated in-wider networks of power, equality, and identity. Rural Studies is now a major field of interdisciplinary research and teaching, supported by significant international journals. It is taught in a range of academic departments, especially Geography, but also by those working in, for example, Sociology, Planning, Anthropology, Agricultural Economics, and Cultural Studies. Now, this new collection from Routledge answers the need for an authoritative and comprehensive reference work to make some sense of a widely dispersed body of literature, and an ongoing flood of research output. The collection is edited and introduced by three prominent researchers in Rural Studies who have brought together in one 'mini library' the foundational and canonical contributions alongside innovative and agenda-setting pieces. Themes covered include: rural space and culture; economies and livelihoods; power and governance; exclusion, justice, and ethics; embodiment, emotion, and performance; environment, nature, and life; and 'narrating rurality differently'. The collection offers a comprehensive resource for researchers, teachers, and students. Indeed, all users of this four-volume set will emerge with a greater understanding of the development, scope, significance, and intellectual liveliness of Rural Studies.

Author Biography

Paul Cloke, Henry Buller, and Jo Little, all of the University of Exeter, UK.