Boonstra, Wiebren
- Department of Rural Development and Agroecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
The Dutch countryside forms the scene for pressing problems of management and allocation of land and water. These problems underscore the need for comprehensive rural policies. For that purpose, area-based rural policy has been initiated. This new policy is part of a larger policy shift, labelled in literature as 'new rural governance'. Area-based rural policy co-ordinates the different interests of stakeholders and establishes consensus-based solutions. In this article we question this claim. We analyse the conflicts, rationalities and interests within a Dutch rural planning project. This project displays a power struggle in which actors try to (de)construct legitimacy. This observation contrasts sharply with the consensual rationality on which area-based policies are founded. Therefore, we conclude that a tension exists between 'what should be done' and 'what is actually done' in Dutch rural policy. Area-based policy does not guarantee the establishment of consensus among rural stakeholders. Therefore, Dutch area-based policies need to be contextualised to purposefully address spatial rural problems. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Published in
Journal of Rural Studies
2005, volume: 21, number: 3, pages: 297-312
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Social Sciences
Economics and Business
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2005.04.003
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/9205