SAL-33806 Urban Development and Rural Change in Contemporary Societies

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
One day excursion4
Lectures12
Literature study
Tutorial40
Course coordinator(s)dr. HJ de Haan
Lecturer(s)dr. HJ de Haan
Examiner(s)dr. HJ de Haan

Assumed knowledge on:

Human Geography UK (SAL-20406)

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.

Learning outcomes:

After this course the students will have the knowledge, tools and skills: - to describe the socio-cultural impact of urban development on rural areas in highly urbanized societies;
- to interpret and distinguish different types of urbanization and how these are related to concepts such as rurality, regiona identity, and counter-urbanization;
- to apply rural sociological and geographical theories to the transformation of the countryside, with special attention for local reactions;
- to be able to recognize and diagnose rural-urban conflicts, and how these are related to differential concepts of rurality, nature, landscape and identity;
- to propose solutions for urban-rural conflicts, based on a thorough analysis of local social and spatial conditions;
- to develop research questions, write a research based report and present the results.

Activities:

- lectures;
- discussion and literature study;
- case study analysis;
- essays;
- half day fieldtrip.

Examination:

Written exam and assignments.

Literature:

Course outline available. Literature to be announced.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: MLPLandscape Architecture and PlanningMScB: Socio-Spatial Analysis4WD