The XXIV European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, 22-25 August 2011, Chania, Greece‏

The XXIV European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, 22-25 August 2011, Chania, Greece‏

The conference will provide important
opportunities for rural social scientists to explore new evidence and
approaches to understanding rural diversity and inequality. It will seek to
pose new questions around both traditional and emerging conflicts. The
conference will reflect work within and between the following four themes:
Growing inequalities at the global scale
The multidimensionality of inequality and the importance of diversity
Diversity in space and rural areas
Diversity and inequality – Implications for the governance of European
States and Institutions
FOCUS ON THE working on "Sustainability, transition and change in the rural
areas of South Eastern Europe"
Convenors
Natalija Bogdanov, University of Belgrade
Andrea Segrè, University of Bologna
Matteo Vittuari, University of Bologna
Description
The development and the European integration process which has been followed
in the past decade by the Central-Eastern European Countries (CEECs) can be
considered as an important milestone for the Western Balkans (WBs). At the
same time the Enlargement in 2004 and the one in 2007, that included also
part of South Eastern Europe (SEE), have created a political, economical and
social pressure towards the integration of the WBs in the Enlarged Europe.
The seven countries of Western Balkan (Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution
1244/99, Montenegro and Serbia) present significantly differences within
their rural space, agricultural sector, economic development and EU
accession status (candidates or potential candidates). Meanwhile, also
considering the European perspective, the WB area shows strong historical
shared features and a common (and consequent) geo-political development as
in the case of other large (and heterogeneous) macro-areas (i.e.
Mediterranean, Baltic space or Scandinavia). The countries of this region
also show strong interdependencies both in terms of trade and economic
relationships and in terms of political and cultural connections.
Out of historical, geographical and economical reasons, land represents a
crucial resource for the Western Balkans and more in general for whole South
Eastern Europe (SEE) so that agricultural and rural policy will play a key
role in the region considering that a major attention within the CAP post
2013 debate has been given to high nature value farming, land management,
biodiversity preservation, public goods and capacity building. Furthermore
the reduction of the urban – rural divide in terms of services,
infrastructures and entrepreneurial opportunities should be one of the main
objectives /aimed at/for the promotion of social and political stability.
The working group focuses on the analysis of social and economical
transformations of agricultural and rural areas in South Eastern Europe
taking into consideration the main drivers of change and aiming at offering
a representation of the diversity that characterizes the region. Interested
contributors are requested to focus on:
poverty and socio-economic security;
labor and entrepreneurship;
effectiveness and sustainability of sectoral and territorial policies in
promoting the modernization process in agricultural and rural areas;
agricultural and rural policy of WB countries towards EU accession: politics
vs policy;
role of local communities and strategies for the valorization of territorial
capital;
economic diversification and rural non-farm economics;
challenges and opportunities of adopting the EU acquis communautaire taking
into consideration the CAP post 2013;
role of international donors;
role of knowledge and information;
impact, challenges and opportunities related to the world economic crisis.
Important Dates
Registration deadline: July 1st, 2011
Submission deadline for abstracts: April 30th, 2011
Call for Papers
Participants who would like to present a paper are requested to submit an
abstract by April 30th, 2011.
The Abstract submission form, available as Ms Word file or as PDF file, must
be sent by email to the convenors (http://esrs2011.maich.gr/wp_list.html)
AND to the following e-mail address: chania2011@agr.unipi.it
Full papers should be sent also, by email to chania2011@agr.unipi.it.
For more info please contact prof. Gianluca Brunori at gbrunori@agr.unipi.it