Globalising Rural Development

This collection of 17 papers examines the impact of the changing paradigm of rural development on poverty alleviation, equity, gender, food security, employment and sustainability. "Globalizing Rural Development's" major concern is the goal of rural development being achieved in a globalized world. Specifically, it examines how endogenous and participatory approaches may prove helpful for sustainable rural development and the way the changing role of the state and interventions of NGOs can make a difference. The central argument is that the new paradigm of rural development reflects the core-periphery dichotomy, in which the core imposes on the periphery, in a top-down approach, in all major interventions. As a result, the new paradigm is ridden with limitations in addressing the highly differentiated needs and contexts of rural development both in developing and developed countries. Divided into four sections, "Globalizing Rural Development": examines the inherently contradictory relationship between the new development paradigm and the goals of rural development; studies the emerging role of the state and state-led interventions in the context of globalization, and the role and potential of NGOs in rural development; highlights the rural livelihood framework and the impact of endogenous efforts at rural development in Europe and some Asian countries; and presents participatory methods for addressing problems like food security, women's empowerment, and poverty alleviation.