Rural people and communities in the 21st century : resilience and transformation

Dedication Copyright Acknowledgments Part I Thinking About Rural Places in Metropolitan Society 1 Rurality in Metropolitan Societies The Development of Social Scientific thought about Rurality What Images and Attitudes Do People Have about Rural People and Places in Metropolitan Societies? Why Rural People and Places Matter in Urbanized Society Notes References 2 Urbanization and Population Redistribution Conceptualizing and Measuring Urbanization Why Population Concentrates in Urban Places Urbanization can be Reversed Conclusions Notes References 3 Rural Politics and Governance Rural Political Arenas Voting and Political Participation The Rural Vote in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election Conclusions Notes References Part II Rural Communities, Institutions, and Environments 4 Understanding Community in Rural Society Understanding Community Has Urbanization Undermined Community? Community Lost or Community Transformed? Two Sociological Approaches to Understanding Community Are the Social Field and Social System Approaches Antagonistic? Community Power The Community Challenge: Balancing Autonomy and Collective Responsibility Conclusions Notes References 5 Community Institutions in Rural Society Federalism and the Structure of Local Governance Education Health Care and Health Care Institutions in Rural America Conclusion Notes References 6 Natural Resources and Social Change Natural Amenities: An Engine of Growth? Environmental Contexts for Community Development and Conflict Resource Extraction as a Social Process New forms of resource extraction: generating green and renewable energy Conclusions Notes References Part III Rural Populations 7 Youth, Aging, and the Life Course Individual Aging Versus Population Aging Individual Aging in Rural Communities Challenges Facing Rural Youth and Young Adults Challenges Facing Older Rural Adults Population Aging in Rural Communities Three Community-Level Challenges of Rural Population Aging Conclusions Notes References 8 Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Rural Areas Thinking about Race and Ethnicity Race and Rurality Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances in Rural Areas American Indians in Rural Areas Latinos in Rural Areas and the Changing Patterns of Immigration Conclusions Notes References Part IV Rural Economy and Socioeconomic Wellbeing 9 Making a Living in Rural Communities The Structure and Restructuring of Rural Opportunities The Rural Labor Force The Utilization of Rural Labor Local–Global Linkages Conclusions Notes References 10 Farms, Farmers, and Farming in Contemporary Rural Society The Structure of Agriculture Family Farms and Farm Families The Food System Conclusions Notes References 11 Poverty Across Rural People and Places Who is Poor in the United States? Poverty as a Multi-Dimensional Concept Why are some Persons and Families more likely to be Poor than Others? Conclusions Notes References Part V Conclusions 12 A Transformed Rural Society: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future Long-Term Rural Transformations – a Changed Rural Demography Transformed Rural Economies Global–Local Connections Poverty and Inequality New and Changing Trends Affecting Rural America The Rural Policy Choice Rural Community Capacity Reconsidered Notes References Index End User License Agreement Rural people and communities continue to play important social, economic, and environmental roles at a time when societies are rapidly urbanizing. This unrivaled critical introduction examines the causes and consequences of major social and economic transformations affecting rural populations in recent decades, explores policies developed to ameliorate problems or enhance opportunities, and highlights the resilience of rural people and communities. The book explores both sociodemographic and political economic aspects of rural transformation through an accessible and up-to-date blend of theory and empirical analysis, with each chapter's discussion grounded in real-life case-study materials. -- From publisher's description