Journal
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
Volume 47, Issue -, Pages 506-513Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.07.004
Keywords
Population loss; Rural decline; Rural revival; Bottom-up initiatives; Social capital; Sustainability
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [41130748, 41301190]
- China's Targeted Poverty Alleviation [Y66L0000AJ]
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It is necessary for rural communities to meet conditions of decline, including depopulation, with effective strategies for rural revival and revitalisation. Based on Hirschman's 'exit-voice' theory, this paper investigates the way in which local stakeholders respond to processes of rural depopulation. Case studies undertaken in Xiaoguan village in China and in Are in Sweden reveal the effectiveness of bottom-up revitalization initiatives in combating rural decline. We show how local stakeholders' strong voices in these places which called for improved living conditions and increased job opportunities held people and groups together, encouraging them to work together with shared values and attitude. The strong leadership demonstrated either by local committees or in stakeholders' self-organized actions played an important role in carrying out revitalisation initiatives. We highlight the importance of not only reviving economies but also creating desirable rural lifestyles. Our findings also emphasize the need for bottom-up initiatives to align with government policy and regional development plans. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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