This volume provides an overview of research on seemingly, current and former peripheral areas and on processes of peripheralisation in Europe. Particular emphasis is given to questions of local and regional governance, to multiple actors of peripheralisation and residential revitalisation as well as to economic and ecological transformations. --

Bringing together case studies from Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal and the UK, this book examines the contribution of entrepreneurial ventures and new technology in stimulating economic development in rural locations. It looks at instances of 'good practice' in terms of both public and private initiatives, and develops a coherent combination of policy objectives facilitating the long-term economic development of the countryside. Firstly analyzing the key causes and effects of economic restructuring currently affecting Europe's rural areas, the book then explores the consequences that European integration and 'globalization' have had and will have in future. It identifies sources of entrepreneurship and examines their distribution between different gender, age and other social groupings. The book continues to evaluate the extent to which the existing institutional, social and technological environment and infrastructure encourages and facilitates entrepreneurship.

The framing conditions for rural areas in Europe have changed dramatically in the past thirty years. As a result, regional disparities proliferate between prospering and structurally weak areas, between innovative and stagnating regions, between centres and peripheries. This situation coincides with an increasing differentiation of rural areas, which vary considerably in their economic structure and development prospects. Changes have also occurred in policies that are relevant for rural areas. New concepts and strategies of regional policy have been the subject of much debate since the mid-1990s. First formulated at the EU-level in the "Cork Declaration" (1996), the concept of integrated rural development is particularly important. Integrated development stands for an approach based on a consistent use of endogenous potentials, a multi-sector regional and local implementation level, the participation of those affected, the development and use of network structures and partnerships, as well as the implementation of regional management and capacity building. In view of the far-reaching structural changes, the classic steering instruments of the national authorities have proven to be insufficient. Other levels appear to be more appropriate to address many of the current issues. Responsibilities of the nation state are transferred either "upstream", that is to higher-level authorities, e.g. the European Union, or "downstream" to regional and local authorities. At the same time, the relationship of public administration, economy and civil society is being reformed especially at the regional level, which can be summarised under the term of regional governance. The above sets the context for this study, which analyses new concepts, strategies and instruments in regional development policy, their implementation at the regional and local levels and finally, their relevance for the development perspectives of rural peripheries. The study rests upon three qualitative case studies, carried out in three different European regions: the Western Isles and Skye & Lochalsh (Scotland), the province Jämtland (Sweden) and the region Eisenwurzen (Austria). The detailed evaluation of the case studies, leads on to a comparative analysis of the examined national and regional and/or local concepts, as well as the employed strategies and instruments for regional development. Whilst showing many commonalities, the results reflect the heterogeneous development paths that can be identified in regional development policy in general.

Bringing together case studies from Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal and the UK, this book examines the contribution of entrepreneurial ventures and new technology in stimulating economic development in rural locations. It looks at instances of 'good practice' in terms of both public and private initiatives, and develops a coherent combination of policy objectives facilitating the long-term economic development of the countryside. Firstly analyzing the key causes and effects of economic restructuring currently affecting Europe's rural areas, the book then explores the consequences that European integration and 'globalization' have had and will have in future. It identifies sources of entrepreneurship and examines their distribution between different gender, age and other social groupings. The book continues to evaluate the extent to which the existing institutional, social and technological environment and infrastructure encourages and facilitates entrepreneurship.

The countryside has often been marginalised in discussions of economic and societal development, in favour of the urban. This book aims to stimulate a debate and a re-evaluation of how the concepts of the rural, peripheral and marginal are treated in academia and policy. Approaching this theme from geographic, demographic and economic perspectives, Peter de Souza makes a compelling case for giving the periphery a prominent role as an integral part of a holistic and balanced society. The book carefully deconstructs the concept of the urban, and critiques the idea of urban-rural or centre-periphery comparisons, and presents an alternative approach to spark future discussions. Winner of the Regional Studies Association Best Book Award 2020, The Rural and Peripheral in Regional Development will be of interest to those studying and researching in the areas of rural economics, sustainability and development, as well as those involved in rural policymaking.

Contemporary immigration processes, such as forced migration and labour-induced mobility, as well as lifestyle and leisure-oriented movements, increasingly affect areas in Europe that are considered as peripheral or rural. This edited collection sheds light on the diversity of in-migration, its specific implications for development and strategies for coping. Contributions from various sub-disciplines of the social sciences, including human and cultural geography, sociology and spatial planning with different regional foci, encourage theoretical discussions, enhancing empirical knowledge and providing stimuli for practitioners involved in migration and development issues. The structure of the volume therefore follows four main themes: (1) conceptual reflections on immigration to peripheral rural areas and development prospects; (2) patterns and types of immigration processes, drawing on various case studies from all over Europe; (3) realms of integration: namely, housing, economy and social life; (4) immigration management with a special emphasis on regional and local strategies, undertaken by policy-makers, the private sector and civil society.