Rural Development

Abstract

Rural development refers to the processes of both planned and unplanned change in non‐urban areas. Anthropologists have engaged with both practical rural development initiatives and deeper theoretical questions about how rural places and communities change over time. Planned rural development initiatives can be categorized as extension projects and programs, infrastructure and service‐delivery initiatives, production and market‐development initiatives, and rural community development, with some initiatives taking an integrated approach. Research by anthropologists provides insights into rural development processes in diverse contexts around the world, often challenging outsiders' stereotypical images of rural communities and economies. Anthropological research on rural development reveals the complexity of rural social and economic organization and highlights the nature and importance of local knowledges and practices. This in‐depth understanding provides important insights into both planned and unplanned processes of rural change.