This book has been developed from a report of the cross-national PRIDE (Partnerships for Rural Integrated Development in Europe) research project. The research involved focusing on public and private sector rural development experience of six member states of the European Union, namely Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

This Combat Poverty research study examines the role of local partnerships in promoting social inclusion in Ireland. Ireland is among the EU countries who have a strong model of local partnership. The book assesses the application of the partnership model in tackling social exclusion, canvasses the views of various stakeholders as to its policy impact, and makes recommendations for the continued operation of local partnerships as an instrument of social inclusion.

How does one transform small size and relative isolation into a powerful combination for sustainable growth and prosperity?Some islands and rural regions have already done so. Winning tools and strategies deployed by these middle-level governance structures include: 'scaling up' of municipal units; developing tourist and computer-driven industries; engaging strategically with their diaspora; branding niche products and services; facilitating 'boutique', small-scale manufacturing; limiting local firm rivalry; and, overall, deploying a creative 'resourcefulness of jurisdiction'. The papers in this collection flesh out these tools and strategies. They do so by unpacking and challenging received wisdom; charting out the parameters of effective government; teasing in the critical role of empowered local communities and the engagement of civil society with the multiple levels of decision-making of the state. The book's message emphasizes a proactive, creative, and assertive approach to governance; one that aims to instill a sense of efficacy to achieve remote control.

The rural reforms in many post-soviet countries produced a number of unintended consequences. The reforms were guided by ideals of romanticized society of family farmers; they were to be the basis of the rural middle-class, together with owners of non-agricultural SMEs, acting as guardians of democracy and common good. The guidelines were set by advisers from World Bank and IMF, who preferred family farms or individual farms over the collective enterprises. In most countries the result was nothing like those envisaged by reformers. Instead of efficient and productive family farms, the result was almost complete de-capitalization of agriculture and collapse of production. The reform was destructive not only as far as production is concerned, but more importantly to rural communities. Social ties, which were based on the collective farm as the main economic and social resource for local community, were eroded. Only from the turn of this decade some early stages have been visible of new developments in economic and social life in post-socialist rural areas. The result is that now, more than fifteen years since the beginning of agricultural reforms, the key agricultural producers in Russia, Baltic countries and elsewhere are very large capitalist farms or large agricultural holding companies. This anthology is based on the presentations given at the 5th Aleksanteri Conference 10 11 November 2005 in Helsinki, Finland, and it is devoted to the analysis of some of these issues. The volume is divided into two parts, in the first part the focus is on the patterns and problems of transformation of post-socialist agriculture and agricultural policies while the second part is focuses mainly on efforts to revitalize rural communities and issues of local development.

Contrasting empirical studies of ten European countries, this volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic, social, political and cultural restructuring processes taking place in rural Europe and of the various national, regional and local development programmes devised to respond to these. It focuses particularly on issues of power and leadership in the evolution and administration of these programmes.

This book presents the lessons learned from the most recent experiences in seven countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy and the United States. This book proposes a strategy that governments can implement to improve governance through partnerships.

History, sociology, anthropology, and public policy are combined to deliver the encyclopedia destined to become the standard reference work in American rural studies. From irrigation and marriage to games and mental health, this encyclopedia is the first to explore the contemporary landscape of rural America, placed in historical perspective. With over 300 articles prepared by leading experts from across the nation, this timely encyclopedia documents and explains the major themes, concepts, industries, concerns, and everyday life of the people and land who make up rural America. Entries range from the industrial sector and government policy to arts and humanities and social and family concerns. Articles explore every aspect of life in rural America. Encyclopedia of Rural America, with its broad range of coverage, will appeal to high school and college students as well as graduate students, faculty, scholars, and people whose work pertains to rural areas. - Publisher.

Innovation, skills, entrepreneurship and social cohesion are key drivers of growth. Each has a strong governance component, which is analysed in this OECD book.