This book provides an up-to-date account of the many processes shaping and transforming rural space in various parts of the world. The various case studies focus on the multi-functionality of the rural world and the driving forces behind it. The book demonstrates that rural areas are no longer simply characterized by an agricultural economy, and instead accommodate multiple complementary activities. It also touches upon two major changes that have taken place. The first is the process of rurbanization, which has led to the clear distinction between town and countryside becoming blurred: urban traits have penetrated rural areas, and rural traits have invaded towns. The second change is that rural areas are increasingly seen as multi-functional, providers not only of food and other natural resources but also locations for the generation of renewable energy (wind farms, solar farms, biogas) and regions for the preservation of biodiversity. These transformations have resulted in a new understanding and self-image of rural areas and their populations.

Provides insight in the diversity of marginalization and demarginalization trends Examines rural areas around all five continents of the world Contributes to the on-going discussions on geographical marginality

Autorentext
Walter Leimgruber's research interests include boundaries and transborder relations, regional development and inequality issues. He graduated and obtained his PhD from the University of Basle, Switzerland, where he worked from 1975 to 1980. From 1982 till his retirement in 2009 he taught human geography at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He has authored and edited/co-edited 7 books. He was President of the Association of Swiss Geographers (ASG) 1987 to 1989 and Chair of the Swiss National Committee IGU 1989 to 1992. 2001 to 2004 he directed the Centre d'Etudes, de Recherche et de Documentation sur l'Afrique à Fribourg (CERDAF) He chaired the IGU Commission on Evolving Issues on Geographical Marginality in the Early 21st Century World from 2000 to 2004 and has been its secretary since.. Chang-yi David Chang is currently the Chair Professor, Environmental and Development Program, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. He was the chair of IGU Commission on Islands (20062016) and serves as a member of IHDP GLOLAL Change Commission, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. His research interests include environmental resources conservation and management in marginal regions. He is a member of international editorial advisory board of Geographiska Annaler, series B. He also published the book Environmental Struggle in Taiwan with professor J.F. Williams at Michigan State University in 2008. He was a Professor at National Taiwan University, where he taught at the Department of Geography from 1976 to 2010. He was the President of Geographical Society of Taiwan and the chair of IGU National Committee-Taiwan from 1999 to 2003. As a volunteer worker, he has also served as the President of the Taipei Yunhe Community University, which supports adult continuing education and social reform since the year 2000.

Inhalt
Part I Introduction: Rural space between marginality and centrality. Approaches to marginality issues in rural areas.- Part II People: Impact of rural restructuring on the time-space behavioural patterns in a marginal area.- Spatial differentiation of social capital: A case study of peripheral and rural microregions in Czechia.- Rural Labour Markets and Peripherization Processes in Poland.- The role of identity in community activities of marginal rural areas.- Deconstructing financial inclusion and exclusion in the development discourse: case studies of microfinance operations in rural Bangladesh.- Part III Transformation processes: Agrarian and urban transitions in Lam Dong province, Vietnam: adaptation or marginalisation for ethnic minorities?.- The influence of globalization to overcome marginality in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina.- Advances in marginality studies in southern Mendoza, Argentine.- Demographic and economic change in small towns in New Zealand and the responses to marginalization.- Part IV Primary activities : An alternative agriculture space in an indigenous community: Kalala, Taiwan.- Restructuring of Japanese forestry and the current condition for the sustainability of more advanced forestry regions.- Urban agriculture in Zambia.- Part V Towards a multifunctional rural space: The role of traditional handicrafts in the development of rural areas: the case of Ribnica, Slovenia.- Windfarms in Champagne-Ardenne Region. An assessment of the acceptability and local governance issue.- Protected areas and the integration process of mountainous areas in mainland Southeast Asia: the case of Luang Nam Tha, Lao PDR.- Part VI Conclusion: Perspectives of rural space.