Rural regeneration strategies for declining regions: trade-off between novelty and practicability

ABSTRACT

Innovation comprises both novelty and practicability. These two dimensions of innovation correlate partly negatively in our analysis of survey data about planning processes in declining rural districts. As argued in the literature, declining regions need innovative concepts beyond traditional counteracting strategies to ‘shrink smart’. Competitions are suggested as feasible-to-initiate innovative local concepts by the state. The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture invited 39 particularly affected rural districts to participate in such a competition among the best concepts. We address the questions of how the districts dealt with the requirements for novelty and practicability in their concepts and how the rules of competitive bidding procedures influence those concepts. Answering these questions, we conducted a survey and statistically tested hypotheses deduced from governance and innovation theory. Moreover, we analysed the bidding documents. The results show that most districts came up with hardly novel and only partly practicable concepts because the organization of the competition, and local bargaining processes impede innovation. Furthermore, the ministry’s requirements for the competition overburdened local actors with a lack of resources in declining regions. As a policy implication, we propose to integrate external experts in local networks and to accompany declining regions over a longer time instead of short-term competitions and projects.     

Sense of place and tourism business development

This study is to investigate the role of sense of place on residents' participation in tourism-related businesses. Emphasis was placed on understanding whether and how sense of place influenced people's decisions to operate a tourism-related business. Thus, this framework and the empirical validation presented are the result of triangulating quantitative survey data (n = 118) tourism business operators and follow-up with qualitative interviews (n = 72) respondents in Tai O, Hong Kong, the linkages between sense of place and small and medium business enterprises (SMTEs) were explored. The findings revealed that sense of place played an important role in encouraging move-out residents and their descendants to return and participate in a tourism-related business. Sense of place also influenced some people's decisions regarding the type of business they were involved in and the manner in which they operated their business. The findings suggested that operators of tourism-related businesses who have a strong sense of place, whether local residents or outsiders, can contribute to preserving a community's culture and for sustainable tourism development.     

Declining,transition and slow rural territories in southern Italy Characterizing the intra-rural divides

As metropolitan areas around the world keep expanding, behind them, rural areas continue to be affected by greater rates of depopulation. This is not a new phenomenon: rural to urban migration has been reported in the developed world at least from the period between the two world wars. However, recent rural depopulation trends have dramatically intensified in both the developed and the developing countries worldwide. In planning literature, greater emphasis is placed on the “urban–rural” divide, that is, people leaving the countryside to look for better opportunities in urban areas. However, a growing body of literature points to the fact that not all rural areas are declining at the same rate. Indeed, some rural towns have managed to retain population and even to grow. Therefore, at least in developed countries, an “intra-rural” divide notion is emerging. To exemplify this notion, we have studied rural towns in Southern Italy.     

风水——中国古代的聚落区位理论

风水是一种相地术,是中国古代一种选择居住环境的学问。风水起源于原始先民的定居活动,起源于古老的天人合一思想。风水学说有着丰富的内涵,融汇了古代哲学、科学、伦理学,美学、民俗学多方面的智慧,并与自然环境各要素间有着密切的关联。     

An alternative policy approach to rural development in regions facing population decline

ABSTRACT

Many rural regions in Europe used to be characterized by weak economic performance and negative population development. While in a long-term perspective this is not any more valid for large parts of Western Europe, a number of rural regions face persistent population decline. By analysing the case of Austria, where approximately one-third of rural areas have experienced such negative population change over the past decades, this paper will examine the impact on economic performance, income levels and well-being patterns. Addressing the crucial and persistent obstacles to positive population trends, new theoretical approaches and perspectives are discussed for overcoming limitations in development. Future approaches for regional development have to go beyond strategies for targeting economic growth, but have to address issues of local participation, social innovation and establishing trust as preconditions to effectively impact well-being dimensions. Such a mobilization effort would be the result of a comprehensive social transition process which would foster an altered narrative for these rural regions compared to the current and predominant focus on compensation and growth policies. Despite strong interlinkages with other regions and actors, the needs of local people would be central and both would be a cornerstone for social innovation.     

New books

The Highest Andes. A Record of the first Ascent of Aconcagua and Tupungato in Argentina and the Exploration of the surrounding Valleys. By E. A. FitzGerald. London : Methuen and Co., 1899. Pp. 390. Price 30s. net.

In Dwarf Land and Cannibal Country. By A. B. Lloyd. London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1899. Price 21s. net.

The Redemption of Egypt. By W. Basil Worsfold, M.A. London : George Allen, 1899. Pp. 333. Price 25s. net.

Alaska and the Klondike. By Angelo Heilprin, F.R.G.S., F.G.S.A. London : C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, 1899. Pp. 315. Price 7s. 6d.

Tunisia and the Modern Barbary Pirates. By Herbert Vivian, M.A., author of Servia, The Poor Man's Paradise, etc. etc. Illustrated with Photographs and a Map. London : C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, 1899. Pp. xvi + 341. Price 15s.

In a Corner of Asia. By Hugh Clifford. ("The Over‐Seas Library.”) London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1899. Pp. 279. Price 1s. 6d.

Admiral Phillip. By Louis Becke and Walter Jeffert. ("The Builders of Greater Britain” Series.) London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1899. Pp. xx + 336. Price 5s.

Von Kap zum Nil. Eeise‐Erinnerungen aus Sü'd‐, Ost‐ und Nordafrika. With Illustrations. By Dr. Karl Dove. 2nd edition. Berlin : Allgemeiner Verein für Deutsche Litteratur, 1898. Pp. 319.

Die Republik San Marino. Eine Studie. Von Carl Amico. Augsburg : A. Himmer, 1899. Pp. 159.

Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. By David Livingstone, M.D. With Notes by Frederick Stanley Arnot. London : John Murray, 1899. Pp. xiv + 447. Price 5s.

Cities and Sights of Spain. A Handbook for Tourists. By E. Main. London: George Bell and Sons, 1899. Pp. 214.

Hazell's Annual for 1900: a Cyclopædic Record of Men and Topics of the Day. Edited by W. Palmer, B.A. (Lond.). London : Hazell, Watson, and Viney, 1900. Pp. 702.

Statistical Year‐Booh of Canada for 1898. Issued by the Department of Agriculture. Ottawa: Government Printing Bureau, 1899. Pp. 606.

Aarbog for Dansh Kulturhistorie. Udgiven af Poul Bjerge. København : Lehmann og Stage, 1899. Pp. 192. Price 2 Kr.

Illustrated Guide for Tourists to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Darjeeling. 1896. Pp. 46.

Nedbøriagttagelser i Norge. Udgivet af det Norske Meteorologiske Institut. Aargang 1, ii. og iii., 1895 Juli, 1897 December. Kristiania : W. C. Fabricius og Sønner, 1899.     

The Mussulman subjects of Russia

The important links between vegetation and rates of accelerated erosion have tended to be obscured in the wider framework of the many factors in erosion. This review draws together the geographical and agricultural implications of vegetation cover, emphasising the many and varied reasons, both on a field and a wider scale, for maintaining good cover.     

Calendars Tell History: Social Rhythm and Social Change in Rural Pakistan

Time is an important element of social organization. The temporal models such as the calendar provide social rhythm by regulating various activities. The changing ways of managing time are indicative of social change. This paper presents the changing use of different calendars in Jhokwala Village, Lodhran District, Pakistan. Three calendars are used in most parts of the Punjab to varying degrees for various purposes. These are Bikrami, Islamic Hijri and Gregorian calendars. Each of these calendars has a specific history of use. This paper highlights that people choose between various alternatives in the course of history and the changing use of calendars tells the story of change and continuity in culture and people's attitude towards modern technology and social change.     

Estancias of Buenos Aires Province,Argentina: Rural Heritage,Sustainable Development and Tourism

Rural settlements growing crops and rearing animals are known as estancias in several South American countries. They played a prevailing role in the political and economic history of Argentina, particularly during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. At present, many estancias are developing alternative activities, as recreation and tourism, in order to be able to subsist. The main problem lies in the fact that a non‐sustainable activity, frequently focused on the greatest economic yield, leads to the destruction of the heritage, instead of achieving its long‐term conservation. The purpose of this paper is to develop and verify a suitable model for the planning, execution and management of recreational and tourist activities in these rural settlements. As regards the scope of the concept of sustainable development, this methodology aims at achieving a balance between the recreational and tourist operation and the conservation of the rich heritage concerned.     

Heritage Recycled: migration and tourism as factors in the heritage of vernacular settlements

Since the 1980s Greece has been the destination of many Albanian migrants in search of work and better living conditions. The research on which this study is based examines the case of Santorini, a small Greek island which relies heavily on tourism and is currently in the front line of migration. This paper focuses on the relationship between migrants and space, by considering the interaction between migration, tourism and heritage. Heritage brings tourism flows, tourism generates migration through the demand for labour which cannot be met by locals, and migration helps to keep heritage alive because migrants occupy the old deserted settlements and also provide the means for the revitalisation of traditional ways of production. Through research in three different locations on the island, it is suggested that, contrary to the common public perception that migrants operate in a destructive way towards the spatial, social and economic environments, they actually contribute to their revitalisation.