Rural Sociology Group
The Rural Sociology Group recombines different sociological theories and interdisciplinary approaches to study the many forms of power, inequality and unevenness. It starts from the everyday life of people to understand transformation processes in agriculture, food provisioning, and rural development from a comparative perspective. Our research provides a theoretically informed understanding of issues of equity, governance, oppression, resistance, and hope by rethinking of possible alternative futures for a more sustainable, just and inclusive society.
Chairholder
Weblog
Our colleagues and students regularly share their research, field experiences, educational journeys, and more. Dive into their stories for an insiders’ perspective.
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Research themes
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Agrarian change
The Rural Sociology Group explores the complex and ongoing transformations in farming communities, agricultural practices, and rural life across both the Global South and Global North. As the world faces intertwined social and environmental crises, understanding these changes is more crucial than ever.
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Food provisioning
The Rural Sociology Group studies diverse forms of food provisioning and alternative food economies in rural and urban settings, and the role of hopeful critiques of the modernisation, globalisation and industrialisation of food systems.
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Rural development
One of the key research challenges today is understanding the future of rural areas in an increasingly urbanized society. Many fear that unceasing urbanisation will concur with the decline and depopulation of rural areas, which will impair the quality of life of rural residents. However, in the longer run it may affect all of us as we depend on rural areas for many basic needs including food, fresh air and clean water, but also sustainable energy, housing and recreation. Last but not least rural areas serve as markers of identity and belonging across the world. More insight into the interrelation between urbanisation and rural development and the preconditions for realising sustainable societies is, hence, important.
Education
We teach courses on topics linked to rurality, food provisioning and place-based development. We offer possibilities to do a bachelor, master thesis or internship.
Latest publications
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A research framework to investigate food systems at a national scale
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Understanding the emerging phenomenon of food forestry in the Netherlands : An assemblage theory approach
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How the social dignity of recipients is violated and protected across various forms of food aid in high-income countries : a scoping review