Distant bodies ? Rural studies, political–economy and poststructuralism

Abstract

This paper suggests that recent debates over the future of rural studies have been, in some cases, highly dualistic, claiming that it is necessary to choose between political–economy or poststructuralism and between adopting a structuralist/modernist class–analysis or a poststructuralism/postmodernism in which class does not figure. It is argued that there are good reasons for resisting such constructions of choice, and the paper seeks to demonstrate the value of paying attention to discursive constructions of class. Drawing on four pieces of rural research, it is suggested that class is still a salient discursive construct, both within popular images of rurality and within the descriptions of rural life made by, at least some, rural residents. It is also argued that while many rural residents do explicitly reject class identities, often preferring to construct identities through a range of rural lifestyle discourses, these themselves often draw upon cultural textures of class

Living with dementia in rural and remote Scotland: Diverse experiences of people with dementia and their carers

“…The authors concur withPhillips (2002) about the need to include class as one axis of difference. However, our analysis in this paper does not incorporate class explicitly as we did not get sufficient data to allow us to draw out the implications of their socio-economic position.8 This paper does not intend to explore the specifics of dementia service provision in Scotland, or the detailed implications of our findings for service provision, as these are covered elsewhere (seeInnes et al, 2005, forthcoming).…”

“…These include issues of gender and class in rural areas (Phillips, 2002;Little and Leyshon, 2003); and the gendered aspects of caring (Gilmour et al, 2003;Innes, 2002) among others. 14 Summaries of the research were distributed to carers, people with dementia, service providers and policy makers along with an invitation to one of three workshops held across Scotland (Western Isles, Inverness and Stirling).…”

Gender, class and rurality: Australian case studies

“…In terms of the former Phillips (2002) has emphasised that contemporary rural studies of class have often juxtaposed post-structural and Marxist political economy perspectives. In contrast he suggests the value of engaging with both perspectives while exploring interrelationships and divergences.…”

Changing class complexions on and in the British countryside

“…Whilst Abram's arguments have in turn been the subject of critique (see Hoggart, 1998), they may be seen as indicative of what Miller (1996, p. 109) identifies as a 'retreat' from 'the age-old problem' of seeking 'to generalise in class terms.' However, as argued in Phillips (1998aPhillips ( , 2002a, this notion presents a 'dualistic' construction of the future, whereby researchers are asked to choose between a seemingly 'modernist class analysis' or a 'postmodernist non-class analysis.' Not only can one point to the continued interest in class analysis by some rural researchers (e.g.…”

“…Not only can one point to the continued interest in class analysis by some rural researchers (e.g. Murdoch, 2003;Cloke et al, 1998;Phillips, 2001Phillips, , 2002a, but it is also worth noting Cloke and Thrift's (1990, p. 165) claim that rural studies has had a long-standing 'aversion to notions of class' reflective of, they suggest, a 'rural ideology which traditionally presents the countryside as an essentially classless society.' Arguably a postmodern non-class analysis represents a 'back to the future' movement.…”