Rapid urbanisation, inequalities in income and service levels within and
between communities, and population and economic decline are challenging
the viability of rural communities worldwide. Achieving healthy and
viable rural communities in the face of rapidly changing social,
ecological and economic conditions is a declared global priority. As a
result, governments all over the world, in both developed and developing
countries, are now prioritizing rural and regional development through
policies and programs aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of people
living in rural regions.
In recognition of the important roles that research can play in rural
development, a range of systematic literature reviews have rightly
examined key priorities in rural development including education,
gender, economic development (especially agriculture), and health and
nutrition (see Department for International Development [DFID], 2011).
However, none of these works has systematically examined the extent to
which rural development as a field of research is progressing towards
facilitating sustainable change.
This book evaluates trends in rural development research across the five
continental regions of the world. Specifically, it assesses the total
publication output relating to rural development, the types of
publications, their quality and impact over the last three decades.
Additionally, it evaluates the continental origins of the publications
as well as the extent to which such publications engage with issues of
sustainability. The aim is to determine whether the rural development
field is growing in a manner that reflects research and policy
priorities and broader social trends such as sustainability.
Development policy makers, practitioners, those teaching research
methods and systematic literature reviews to undergraduate and graduate
students, and researchers in general will find the book both topical and
highly relevant.
