The main emphasis is given to the reproduction of family farming as a mixture of commodified and non-commodified relations of production. This course provides an introduction to the sociological analysis of agricultural policy-making and agricultural interest intermediation. It covers 'basic' theories and concepts of Political Sociology concerning power, interests, ideology, democracy and the State. J.D. van der Ploeg and professors from other European universities. This course introduces students to the complexities of rural development processes in Europe.
Attention is given to new theories of rural development.
A four-day excursion to a particular region constittues part of the programme. During this excursion there are meetings and encounters with farmers, farmers' organisations, government officials, etc. Students have to write together a 'rural development plan' for the concerned region. The course provides an introduction to the theoretical and practical basis of diversity in agricultural production. Students work with data sets in order to come to grips with the analysis of concrete data.