Urban–rural interdependencies: Joining up policy in practice

Abstract

Caffyn A. and Dahlström M. (2005) Urban–rural interdependencies: joining up policy in practice, Regional Studies 39 , 283–296. ‘Urban’ and ‘rural’ are commonly used in an oppositional fashion. Authorities and agencies have similarly developed policies for development and regeneration in Britain with little cross‐referencing. This paper argues that there are benefits to be gained by taking an integrated urban–rural approach to regional development and by focusing on interdependencies and commonalities rather than on differences. Policy documents at the European, national and regional levels are increasingly stressing interdependencies and the move towards regionalization adds to the shift in emphasis towards functional regions rather than to town and country. The paper reports primary research in England into the scale and scope of joint urban–rural collaboration in practice.Urban–rural collaboration, Regional development, Policies, Partnerships, Local authorities, England, Collaboration urbano–rurale, Développement régional, Politiques, Partenariats, Administrations locales, Angleterre, Zusammenarbeit von Stadt und Land, regionale Entwicklung, Bestrebungen, Partnerschaften, Ortsbehörden, England, Colaboración urbana–rural, Regional development, Políticas, Asociaciones, Autoridades locales, Inglaterra, JEL classifications: P11, R11, R58,

Urban–Rural Interactions in Latvian Changing Policy and Practice Context

“…Various studies reveal that urban -rural interactions depend from and differ at geographical, historical, cultural and socio-economic contexts and by specific characteristics (Davoudi & Stead, 2002;Bengs & Schmidt-Thomé, 2005;Caffyn & Dahlström, 2005;Zonneveld & Stead, 2007). Urban -rural interrelationships mean visible and invisible flows of people, capital, goods, information and technologies between urban and rural areas; physical and socio-economic connections (Preston, 1975).…”

Bridging between the regional degree and the community approaches to rurality—A suggestion for a definition of rurality for everyday use

“…Equally important, as more of the national and EU rural policies focus on the role of territory, are the local actors' internal and external networks in strengthening local culture and identity and activating local amenities (Shucksmith et al, 2009;Bryden et al, 2008;Lee et al, 2005;Terluin, 2003;OECD, 2001;Murdoch, 2000;Ray, 1998). National and regional policymakers and researchers call for methods of dealing with the overlapping and complex flows and counter flows that characterize the current interdependencies between rural and urban areas (Hewitt, 2007;Copus et al, 2007;Caffyn and Dahlström, 2005;ESPON, 2004). Such an integrated approach to understanding rural-urban interdependencies should include the rural ideal, which is the state of being "close to nature" and having an enhanced feeling for the territorial community and associated social relations (ESPON, 2006;Caffyn and Dahlström, 2005;ESPON, 2004).…”

“…National and regional policymakers and researchers call for methods of dealing with the overlapping and complex flows and counter flows that characterize the current interdependencies between rural and urban areas (Hewitt, 2007;Copus et al, 2007;Caffyn and Dahlström, 2005;ESPON, 2004). Such an integrated approach to understanding rural-urban interdependencies should include the rural ideal, which is the state of being "close to nature" and having an enhanced feeling for the territorial community and associated social relations (ESPON, 2006;Caffyn and Dahlström, 2005;ESPON, 2004).…”

European territorial cooperation and the concept of urban – rural relationships

“…While there are various studies that concentrate on certain aspects of the links between urban and rural areas, such as employment, commuting, landscapes and migration, there are few academic theories and concepts concerning urban -rural relationships per se (Davoudi & Stead, 2002) and there seems to be a general lack of clarity about the nature of these interactions and relationships (Caffyn & Dahlström, 2005;Hoggart, 2005), and certainly at a transnational and European level. This explains the increase in research activities concerning urban -rural relationships in the late 1990s, in the context of the publication of the ESDP.…”