Call for papers ERSA Congress Social Progress for Resilient Regions, Groningen 29 Aug - 1 Sept 2017
Special Session: Rural Challenges and Quality of Life in times of Change
Suzan Christiaanse and Tialda Haartsen, University of Groningen
Deadline for submissions 10 February 2017
Many rural areas face changes due to effects of depopulation, globalisation and urbanisation.
Processes of change often coincide, and rural areas can be significantly impacted by economic
restructuring, aging, increased mobility, outmigration of the younger and the higher educated
people, changing consumer behaviour, and renewed rural-urban relations (Woods, 2005). These
combined processes of change have different outcomes for different rural regions, and for
different social groups. Some regions may struggle to remain liveable, while quality of life in other
regions may be revived. Today’s rural areas face the challenge of providing a stable and liveable
environment, while dealing with the socio-spatial consequences of change. The focus of this
session is to examine different effects of (uneven) processes of rural change.
In this working group we aim to look at these issues from different perspectives and we welcome
scholars from different disciplines and backgrounds. Papers are invited on economic, cultural and/or
social impact of rural transformations, such as: diminishing access to local facilities and services, the
rural-urban divide, derelict housing or diminishing real estate values, as well as potential strategies
for maintaining and improving quality of life and liveability of depopulating rural areas. The session
also pays attention to factors that may make rural regions resilient to change, such as the attractive
rural amenities, the rural idyll and ‘the good life’, creative entrepreneurship, and the role of social,
cultural or symbolical capital for maintaining quality of life.
Important information:
- Presenters can apply for this special session on the basis of an extended abstract or a draft
paper. An extended abstract is 1500 words including contribution, theoretical framework,
empirical approach and/or first results. A draft paper is between 5000 and 10,000 words
and must contain an abstract, introduction, methodology, results and conclusion.
- After notification of acceptance, all presenters must upload a full (draft) paper before June
9th 2017.
- The structure of the special session is as follows: each presentation will last approximately
30 min and all presenters will be assigned a discussant that will provide relevant feedback
and questions. The special sessions have a minimum of 6 contributors.
Please submit extended abstracts via the ERSA website https://ersa.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/2017-ersa-congress/official-website/ExtraContent/ContentSubPage?page=7&subPage=2 before 10 February 2017.
kind regards, Tialda
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