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Social Capital and Rural Development in Europe: A Geographical Perspective

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Social Capital and Local Development

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Abstract

Social capital, local development and neo-endogenous approaches to rural development are described in a space-territory perspective, related to the diversity of European regions and rural areas. The European geography of rural areas and the territorial roots of local development processes reveal the contextual historical, cultural and political-institutional divides, and points of juncture. First, a critical literature review of various approaches and studies regarding social capital in local development is proposed from a human geography perspective. Secondly, a theoretical discussion based on the territorial capital framework focuses on different types and dimensions of social capital. Finally, critical insights based on empirical studies highlight a geography of inequalities observed in different European regions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    European Spatial Development Perspectives (EC/CSD, 1999) recognises the “increasing interdependence of urban and rural areas” and the development of a “new urban-rural relationship”, followed by EU-SUD (2003), and establish a “strong link between social and economic cohesion and territorial cohesion” depending on “the assets of a region – its ‘territorial capital’” (ibid., p. 6), in the context of a regional policy to gain from cross sector approaches and “factors as human resources and social capital” (ibid., p. 23).

  2. 2.

    According to March & Olsen, (1989), these types of democracy correspond to processes under the aggregative and integrative theories. In an aggregative process the will of the people “is discovered through political campaigns and bargaining”, which gives place to “a set of rules for governance through majority rule”. In an integrative process that will “is discovered through deliberation by reasoning citizens and rulers seeking to find the general welfare within a context of shared social values” (ibid., p. 118). So, the former process is based on the representation of citizens by delegation (the elected decide, supported by an “enlightened elite”), while the latter presupposes the (slower) building of consensus and common understanding, raising people’s awareness of existing interests before political decision are made, and regardless, accepting the formal democratic procedures. Granberg & Andersson (2016) present some hybrid situations combining both types.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território (IGOT), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Luís Moreno

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  1. Luís Moreno
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  1. University of Padova , Legnaro, Italy

    Elena Pisani

  2. University of Padova , Legnaro, Italy

    Giorgio Franceschetti

  3. University of Padova , Legnaro, Italy

    Laura Secco

  4. Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, Greece

    Asimina Christoforou

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Moreno, L. (2017). Social Capital and Rural Development in Europe: A Geographical Perspective. In: Pisani, E., Franceschetti, G., Secco, L., Christoforou, A. (eds) Social Capital and Local Development. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54277-5_4

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