Rural Sociology Group
The Rural Sociology Group recombines different sociological theories and interdisciplinary approaches to study the many forms of power, inequality and unevenness. It starts from the everyday life of people to understand transformation processes in agriculture, food provisioning, and rural development from a comparative perspective. Our research provides a theoretically informed understanding of issues of equity, governance, oppression, resistance, and hope by rethinking of possible alternative futures for a more sustainable, just and inclusive society.
Chairholder
Weblog
Our colleagues and students regularly share their research, field experiences, educational journeys, and more. Dive into their stories for an insiders’ perspective.
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Research themes
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Agrarian change
The Rural Sociology Group aims to understand, explain, and influence the roots and implications of the intertwined social and environmental crises of our times, and of their alternatives, for agrarian communities, agricultural practices, and rural life.
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Food provisioning
The Rural Sociology Group studies diverse forms of food provisioning, alternative food economies, and food governance in rural and urban settings. Recognising the diversity of food production systems, we investigate the ways in which food is produced, distributed, consumed, and governed in place-based contexts. Examples include studies on food-sharing networks, urban gardens and food aid in diverse geographical and political contexts like the Netherlands, Eastern and Western Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Within these explorations, we approach food as a site of complex social meanings, cultural traditions, social-economic relations and political contestations. Our work addresses critiques of the modernisation, globalisation and industrialisation of food systems, and explores alternative pathways.
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Rural development
One of the key research challenges today is understanding the future of rural areas in an increasingly urbanized society. Many fear that unceasing urbanisation will concur with the decline and depopulation of rural areas, which will impair the quality of life of rural residents. However, rural-urban mobilities and interactions take many forms, including various forms of counter-urbanization. Moreover, we continue to depend on rural areas for many basic needs including food, fresh air and clean water, but also sustainable energy, housing and recreation. Last but not least rural areas continue to serve as markers of identity and belonging across the world. More insight into rural futures and the preconditions for realising sustainable and inclusive countrysides is, hence, important.
Education
We teach courses on topics linked to rurality, food provisioning and place-based development. We offer possibilities to do a bachelor, master thesis or internship.