What rural restructuring?

摘要

This paper deals with the often loosely utilized appearance of the concept of 'rural restructuring' in the literature. The paper examines rural restructuring from 2 perspectives: as an analytical approach that emphasizes the need for a holistic viewof change processes; and as a statement on the character of change in the countryside. The argument put forward is that restructuring ideas have much to be commended as an 'approach', even if theoretical improvement will require more diversity in 'starting' theoretical perspectives and a stronger willingness to engage with other theoretical stances when the weaknesses of a 'starting' perspective are revealed. This will entail approaching questions of rural restructuring from a broader range of perspectives than from currently dominant visions, which are grounded in political economy. In exploring restructuring ideas as 'facts', the paper focuses on England, as this is a country in which rural restructuring is commonly reported to have occurred or is occurring. The paper argues that this vision of the English countryside is too poorly articulated and that support for this vision is far from convincing. It cautions that restructuring processes are less widespread than is often implied. Moreover, thereare grounds for seeing that restructuring processes are reifying the past, not heralding a new social dynamic.