SAL-33806 Urban Development and Rural Change in Contemporary Societies

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Human Geography (SAL-20306)

Continuation courses:

SAL-70316, SAL-80326

Contents:

This course focuses on the interaction between town and country. It presents theoretical approaches to the changing imagination of and spatial relationships between urban and rural areas. While in the past town and country were functionally and spatially differentiated, urban growth and sprawl are now progressively more occupying rural space. At the same time rural amenities such as landscape, nature and 'rurality' are increasingly seen in terms of urban consumption needs. These processes result in new spatial formations, referred to in terms such as green metropolis, urban countryside, or peri-urban areas. Such new spatial and social formations require new, integrated forms of urban and rural management and policies and fresh perspectives on concepts such as urbanity and rurality. The course starts with theoretical and popular perspectives on urban-rural differences (from urban-rural continuum to the social construction of reality and hybridisation). It goes on with an analysis of how urban dynamics affect the countryside, and how post-modern ideas about the countryside have questioned the meaning of rurality. This is followed by an analysis of rural social and spatial change by focusing on the shift from production to consumption landscape. Finally some examples will be presented how the interface of town and country is practically constructed and reconstructed through innovative forms of policy, planning and governance. Theoretical approaches will be evaluated in terms of their usefulness for understanding real developments and their contribution to policy formation and planning.

Aims:

Upon completion of the course, students will:
- have theoretical and conceptual understanding of town-country interactions in contemporary societies;
- know the main social-science theories related to urban-rural differences;
- have an understanding of the transformation of rural space in an urbanised society;
- be able to analyse a variety of policies, plans and visions of emerging new town-country relationships;
- have knowledge of and be able to analyse different forms of town-country relationships in comparative perspective;
- have insight in the significance of conflicting claims on space, and the heterogeneous ways in which people experience and define problems;
- be able to analyse political processes and policy making in new town-country partnerships;
- have empirical knowledge of present policy and planning initiatives through case studies;
- - be able to creatively think about future forms of integration between town and country.

Activities:

- lectures;
- discussion and literature study;
- case study analysis;
- essays.

Examination:

Written exam and assignments.

Literature:

Course outline available. Literature to be announced.