Rural People and Communities in the 21st Century: Resilience and Transformation
"Will leadership carry through on developing a clear set of goals and strategies, designed to accommodate the dramatic variations found across rural America, for achieving them? Will policy makers respond to and shape change that gives at least equal play to social justice, political regulation and sustainability as it does to economic efficiency? This book provides an essential foundation that brings us one step closer to being able to answer 'yes' to these questions."Social Forces"Well structured and clear in its arguments, outlining different aspects of life in rural areas: their communities and institutions, their populations and their economics. Rural and urban areas are compared and the development of rural environments over the years is outlined. The array of topics covered in the book is impressive and it is clear that the research done by the authors is vast and the level of details is meticulous."The Kelvingrove Review“Brown and Schafft detail the challenges of persistence and change facing rural people and places. Their call for a first-ever holistic, comprehensive rural policy for the United States should be, must be, a policy and political rallying cry for all concerned with the sustainable development of rural communities and regions in the 21st century.”Theodore R. Alter, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Community Development, The Pennsylvania State University“In this fast-paced global environment, it is good to be reminded of the substantive contributions that rural people have made to the well-being of our world. Brown and Schafft pursue a balanced assessment of the problems that beset many parts of rural America today, and comment on the urgency of creating a national policy and mix of programs that build on the strengths of rural people and communities. Yes, rural America matters and thanks to Brown and Schafft, we have important insights on the smart investments that must be made if we hope to ensure its long-term vitality and sustainability.”Lionel J. “Bo” Beaulieu, Mississippi State University“This volume is necessary reading for anyone seeking to understand the contours of change in rural America over the past 50 years. It provides a masterful overview of key dimensions of social, economic, and environmental changes, offers theoretical tools by which to explain these changes, and raises provocative questions about the future of rural America.”Linda Lobao, The Ohio State University, Columbus