The sociology of rural life / / Samantha Hillyard.

• Author: Hillyard, Samantha.
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (224 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

From fox-hunting to farming, the vigor with which rural activities and living are defended overturns received notions of a sleepy and complacent countryside. Alongside these developments, the rise of the organic food movement has helped to revitalize an already politicized rural population. Over the years 'rural life' has been defined, redefined and eventually fallen out of fashion as a sociological concept - in contrast to urban studies, which has flourished. This much-needed reappraisal calls for its reinterpretation in light of the profound changes affecting the countryside. First providing

Table of Contents

Introduction -- 'A problem in search of discipline' (Hamilton 1990: 232) the history of rural sociology -- New issues in rural sociology and rural studies -- The 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in the UK -- The hunting debate: rural political protest and the mobilisation of defence of country sports -- Game shooting in the United Kingdom -- Representing the rural: new methods and approaches -- Conclusion: the future of rural societies and rural sociology -- Appendix: rural sociology institutional framework: critical masses of rural researches in university departments/centres and institutes; sociologists with a periphery interest in the rural; professional associations and rural journals -- Notes -- Glossary of key terms -- References.