Counterurbanisation and rural gentrification: an exploration of the terms

Abstract

objects of study but also to social relationships with other academics, with governmental organisations and with public opinion and values. Attention is drawn to the differential relationships that counterurbanisation and rural gentrifi cation are implicated in, and how this might account for the differential character of the two concepts.ABSTRACT This paper examines the interrelationships between the concepts of counterurbanisation and rural gentrifi cation, suggesting that four different positions can be identifi ed. Firstly, these concepts are highly commensurable and could usefully be more closely aligned. Secondly, rural gentrifi cation has a political/critical dimension that is missing from conceptualisations of counterurbanisation, and hence rural gentrifi cation might usefully displace counterurbanisation as a focus of study. Thirdly, counterurbanisation is a less reductionist concept than rural gentrifi cation, and therefore counterurbanisation researchers need to disentangle themselves from too great a focus on rural gentrifi cation. Fourthly, both concepts share many problematic features and may both be viewed as chaotic concepts. The paper then discusses how counterurbanisation and gentrifi cation researchers have responded to criticisms relating to their conceptual foci, suggesting that these can be characterised as legislative or interpretive. It is argued that whilst the former response has been predominant, there are signs that the latter approach is also being adopted. The concluding part of the paper draws on the notion of an interpretive approach to understanding counterurbanisation and rural gentrifi cation, and their interrelationships. Use is made of Latour's notion of 'circulatory sociologies of translation' to consider how the two concepts are linked not only to their

The Role of Social Networks as Survival Strategies in Agro-Pastoral Communities in Arid And Semi-Arid Lands in Tanzania

“…Conceptualization of social capital with social networks as a critical component is still evolving with no absolute agreement on its definition or measurement (Akçomak, 2009). Phillips (2010) further contends that social capital represents a concept that is both "congested" and "contested", with a multiplicity of conceptions and little consensus as to the most desirable. Coleman (1988) defines social capital as "the structure of relations between actors and among actors in which others may be contacted, obligations and expectations can be safely formed, information can be shared and sanctions can be applied".…”

Theories of Urban Dynamics

“…It is possible to conclude from these studies that the description of the process should distinguish (a) those who understand it as flow (migrations) as opposed to those who speak about balance (structures); (b) those who do not wish to limit themselves to rural areas [30,31], as opposed to those who believe that this should be the centre of attention [3,22,[32][33][34]. Some of them even think that counterurbanization recorded different phases that have modified the destinations of the flows [35].…”

“…In fact, rural areas were not growing, but only the peripheral spaces of traditional cities. Theoreticians of counterurbanization nevertheless maintain its validity, not so much to carry out a predominant prognosis on urban territories but rather to detect a permanent flow, although not hegemonic, towards rural areas [22,33,42,44].…”

Rural gentrification in the North Aegean Countryside (Turkey)

“…Urban to rural migration and its effects on rural areas are commonly discussed within the framework of the concepts of counterurbanization, suburbanization and rural gentrification. (Cloke, 1985;Weekley, 1988;Van den Berg & Klaassen, 1987;Dean, 1984;Phillips, 1993;Phillips, 2010). Within the process, while the migration to the rural from the city has diversified, the conceptual ground of studies on the subject has expanded and new definitions have emerged through these concepts which interact with each other.…”

“…Within the process, while the migration to the rural from the city has diversified, the conceptual ground of studies on the subject has expanded and new definitions have emerged through these concepts which interact with each other. While the concept of counterurbanization focuses on changing population and migration rates, the concept of rural gentrification emphasizes class differences and displacement, and has a political component as well (Phillips, 2010). In this study, the physical and social transformation of rural areas of the Northern Aegean region of Western Turkey, is handled within the framework of rural gentrification.…”