Rural Sustainable Development in the Knowledge Society

Based on the EU-funded CORASON research project, this volume brings together and compares studies into rural and sustainable development processes in 12 European countries. In doing so, it identifies key trends and reveals the changing nature of development processes on the way towards a knowledge society. The book examines the differences between the preconditions and contexts relevant to rural development strategies and those relevant to sustainable development strategies. It explores whether the concept, goals and nature of rural development is better understood and adopted by rural actors than those of sustainable development. Finally by focusing on the ideas and practices of sustainable resource management- a component in both rural and sustainable development objectives- it links with knowledge used by actors involved in rural development.

Dr Karl Bruckmeier is Professor in Human Ecology, School of Global Studies and Human Ecology, Göteborg University, Sweden and Dr Hilary Tovey is Senior Lecturer/Head of Department, Department of Sociology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Natural Resource Management for Rural Sustainable Development; I: Diversification and Innovation in Rural Development; 1: UK: Sustainable Livelihoods on the Island of Skye; 2: Sweden: The Non-Agricultural Rural Economy as a Component of Rural Sustainable Development; 3: Poland: Diversification and Different Contexts of Knowledge - The Case of Polish Rural Areas; 4: Czech Republic: Regional Disparities and Their Influence on Sustainable Rural Development - A Comparison of Two Different Regions; 5: Hungary: Nature and Culture - Resource Management and Knowledge Use in a Hungarian Micro-Region; 6: Italy: Practical Knowledge and Institutional Mediation in a Controversial Case of Clam Farming; II: Environment and Sustainability in Rural Development; 7: Ireland: Ecologizing Rural Ireland? Conflicts and Contradictions Regarding Knowledge for Sustainable Development; 8: Norway: Interpretations of Sustainability Related to Designated Areas; 9: Germany: Nature Conservation and Bio-Diversity in the Northeast; 10: Poland: Designing Nature and Resource Management Strategies; 11: Portugal: Natural Resources, Sustainability and Rural Development; 12: Greece: Knowledge Forms and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Lake Plastiras; III: Comparison and Synthesis of CORASON Case Studies; 13: Innovation in Rural Development and Rural Sustainable Development; Conclusion Beyond the Policy Process: Conditions for Rural Sustainable Development in European Countries