ABSTRACT
Rural studies examines the interrelationships between substantive domains including economy, polity, social organisation, population change, and the natural environment. It is a comprehensive approach to examining structure, agency and rural transformation in the broadest sense. Hence, rural studies, and this Handbook in particular, is an inherently interdisciplinary project. Moreover, rural studies is an applied approach to social science inquiry. Studies are motivated by the joint goal of contributing to social science knowledge, theory and method while at the same time responding to real-life social problems including underdevelopment, social exclusion, population decline, environmental displacement, poverty, ineffective governance, underemployment and environmental pollution. Equally, it examines social, political and economic structures and processes that enhance opportunity and inclusion, making rural areas desirable places to live for many. Accordingly, rural scholars strongly believe that knowledge and practice are equal parts of an integrated process of discovery, engagement and education.
