Governance In Rural Areas Research Articles

Pandemic response in rural Peru: Multi-scale institutional analysis of the COVID-19 crisis

The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating in Peru, which suffered a high death rate and severe economic disruption. These results occurred despite ambitious response measures, revealing widespread institutional weaknesses across the country's levels of government. We analyze responses across the four levels of government, with emphasis on local governance in rural areas, to understand how institutions and contexts shape crisis management outcomes. We focus on the Arequipa region, drawing from 44 interviews with officials and community members. We found that the crisis provoked a reversion to the norm across multiple scales, though with significant differentiation. The national government fell back on a centralized, militarized approach that effectively reclaimed power but was ineffective in confronting the pandemic. Counter the overarching recentralization trend, in rural peripheries where state power was always partial, norms of informal local governance were reinforced and intensified. The de facto autonomy in rural areas elicited a mix of paralysis and improvisation, with outcomes that varied widely from place to place and over time. These bifurcated results in the face of crisis reveal important weaknesses in Peru's governance structures and institutions and show how pre-existing habits and norms were reproduced in the face of crisis, rather than reformed or transcended.

Investments in Renewable Energy Sources in Basic Units of Local Government in Rural Areas

The main purpose of the study was to identify the level and factors influencing investments in renewable energy sources (RES) in basic local government units in rural areas. The specific objectives were to define the conditions for the development of renewable energy sources in Poland, to determine the directions of changes as well as the importance of renewable energy in Poland, to present the relationship between the level of expenditure on renewable energy and budget components in rural and rural-urban communes. The Świętokrzyskie voivodeship (Voivodship—a unit of the highest administration level in Poland, since 1990 a unit of the primary territorial division of government administration, since 1999 also a unit of local government, there were 16 voivodships in Poland), which is one of the centrally located voivodeships in Poland, was purposefully selected for the research. The research period covered the years 2016–2019. The sources of materials were the literature on the subject, as well as empirical materials obtained at the Voivodeship Statistical Office. The following methods were used for the analysis and presentation of materials: descriptive, tabular, graphical, Gini concentration coefficient, Lorenz concentration curve, Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Poland is one of the countries with quite high dependence on hard and brown coal. Changes in the structure of energy sources are slow. Investments in renewable energy are necessary. The problem in this respect is the lack of a proper law. Despite this, investments in renewable energy are being made in rural areas. In the Świętokrzyskie voivodeship, only 28% of communes made such investments. It was found that only in urban rural communes the amount of investment expenditures in renewable energy sources was related to the level of budget expenditures and property expenditures of the commune. The amount of support from the European Union aid funds was positively correlated with the level of expenditure on investments in renewable energy. Therefore, it can be concluded that without the support from EU funds, it is not possible to invest in renewable energy in local government units.

The role of social capital in the collective-led development of urbanising villages in China: The case of Shenzhen

The ‘urbanising village’ is a uniquely Chinese urban form that emerged during the period of rapid urbanisation in the reform era. The absence of state governance in rural areas relegates considerable decision-making power to village collectives, and the social capital inherited from traditional rural villages may remain in place after villages are urbanised. To explore the role of social capital and its mobilisation in solving the land use challenges posed by the urbanisation of rural settlements, we analysed the growth processes of Huanggang village as a typical example of a ‘collective-led’ self-organised urbanising village in Shenzhen. Qualitative analysis using semi-structured interviews and abundant secondary data provides credible evidence that defining property rights through land titling is not the only way to achieve orderly development, safe and sanitary living conditions and efficient land use in informal settlements. Social capital, measured by networks, norms and trust passed down among long-term acquaintances in rural villages, plays an important role in the development of communities. Village collectives can unite villagers and mobilise their social, cultural and material capital to compensate for the absence of formal governance institutions and government-provided community services. The implications of these findings suggest a new strategic pathway for managing urbanising villages in China and informal settlements in other developing countries.

Sustainable Mobility and the Institutional Lock-In: The Example of Rural France

Sustainable mobility issues in rural areas, compared with urban mobility issues, have so far been poorly covered in the French and European public debate. However, local mobility issues are determining factors in territorial inequalities, regional development and ecological transition. This paper is based on preliminary findings of qualitative socio-anthropological fieldwork carried out in two rural departments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Drôme and Ardèche. Our objective is to highlight how the question of sustainable local mobility is linked to governance issues and multiple overlapping institutions. We argue that analyzing stakeholders’ strategies and territorial governance is key to understanding the contemporary dynamics surrounding a transition towards a more sustainable mobility in rural areas. In order to do so, we show how the debates surrounding the adoption of a law allowing for the transfer of responsibility to local authorities for the organization of mobility services reveals the complexity of local mobility governance in rural areas and provides material for the analysis of the logics of stakeholder engagement, cooperation and conflict within the field of sustainable mobility. Through the case study of the organization of a local public transport service in a rural area, we shed light on the action of multiple stakeholders and their potentially antagonistic objectives.

THE COMPARISON OF SIMPLE ADDITIVE WEIGHTING AND TOPSIS TO MEASURE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VILLAGE HEAD IN PRINGSEWU REGENCY

The village has an important role in improving the national economy. A developed village will have a good impact on people's lives, both from the economy and the welfare of the community. The village head has an important role in running the government in rural areas. One of the indicators for evaluating the success rate of development and prosperity of an area is the success of a village itself so that the village or village has an important role in the process of improving development. With special autonomy regarding village development, the role of the village head becomes central and becomes the driving force for village development. To find out how well the village head is performing, it is necessary to have a breakthrough in measuring the village head's performance index in Pringsewu Regency. In measuring the performance of the Village Head, the criteria and weighting of the Simple Additive Weighting and TOPSIS methods are used. The sample was tested using eighteen villages spread across nine sub regency in the Pringsewu Regency. The application of two methods of decision support systems using Simple Additive Weighting and TOPSIS in measuring the index of Village Heads in Pringsewu Regency can trigger an increase in the performance of village heads to build the villages based on predetermined criteria. Of the eighteen alternatives tested, the highest value was A16 with a value of 0.8901508.

Changing dynamics of the nuclear energy policy‐making process in Japan

AbstractTo improve the effectiveness of environmental policy and governance, recent theoretical and empirical research increasingly suggests the adoption of multi‐level and more participatory policy‐making processes over traditionally centralized policy‐making processes. This article takes the Fukushima nuclear crisis of 2011 as a prime example in an attempt to assess the changing dynamics of the nuclear energy policy‐making process in Japan. To explore the changing dynamics, the paper focuses on the roles of the judicial branch and local governments in the nuclear energy policy‐making process. Nuclear energy policy in Japan has evolved along with industrial policies for economic growth. Before the Fukushima crisis, neither the judicial branch nor local governments were regarded as influential actors in nuclear energy policy‐making. The judicial branch basically supported government policy in litigation brought by civic groups. Local governments in rural areas tried to attract nuclear power plant construction because of promised subsidies from the national government and a solid tax base from construction and jobs. However, after the Fukushima crisis, both judicial branches and local governments became more influential in the nuclear energy policy‐making process. Local and high courts now actively issue injunctions against the reoperation of nuclear power plants. In gubernatorial or mayoral elections of local governments where nuclear power plants are located, candidates are politically pressured to express their stance on nuclear power plants more explicitly than in the past. Anti‐nuclear civic groups are also gradually changing the focus of their lobbying efforts to local elections.

Cultural implications for learners’ effectiveness as governors of schools in rural South Africa

The South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996, articulates the establishment of School Governing Bodies, which authorises stakeholders such as parents, educators and learners to participate actively in decision-making processes pertaining to school governance. The Act further stipulates that learners, through the Representative Council of Learners, should be afforded full opportunity to participate in crucial decisions by the broader governing body. The reason for undertaking the study reported on here was triggered by the concern raised by various authors about the high level of ineffectiveness of learners as governors of schools in South Africa. This study explored and analysed the significance of culture in relation to learners’ effectiveness as governors of schools in rural South Africa. A qualitative research approach, based on a purposive sampling method and interviews, was espoused by engaging members of the Representative Council of Learners in certain selected high schools of the Harry Gwala district in KwaZulu-Natal. The findings of the empirical study investigation divulged that culture was one of the main impediments to learners’ effective school governance in the rural South African setting. The study recommends the intervention of the Department of Education, with the view of creating an environment conducive to active learner participation in school governance in rural areas.

Assessing fiscal distress in small county governments

Assessing fiscal distress in small county governments

Carry Forward the Culture of Rural Sages to Strengthen Rural Endogenous Governance

With the declining rural society and the worse rural governance, carrying forward the culture of rural sages and enhancing the endogenous governance in rural areas are keys to realizing the “rural revitalization strategy” and building “beautiful countryside”. This paper is to clarify the connotation of “rural sage” and discuss why and how to carry forward its culture and strengthen rural endogenous governance under the dilemma of rural governance. Finally, taking the development of Rural Sages Council and the improvement of rural governance in Yunfu City, Guangdong Province as an example, the author enhances the advanced experience.

Challenges and Problems of Rural Entrepreneurship: An Explorative Study of Government's Role in Entrepreneurship

'Come to India' and 'Invest in India' were calls given by India's Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum 2018 at Davos to foreign investors. He claimed that India would be reaching $5 Trillion dollar economy by 2025. The World Economic Forum (WEF) stated that Global Competitive Index of India has moved to 58th position out of 140 economies, which is the highest gain for any G20 country. India holds 23rd rank in degree of entrepreneurship. The Make in India campaign, Digital India, influx of AI, and IoT in organizations to make decisions, taxpayer-friendly laws like Goods and Services Tax (GST) amendment bill, banking sector reforms, bankruptcy code for bad debtors, urea, and ethanol as a source of producing electricity, coal auctions, and Start-up India scheme are some initiatives taken by the Indian government to promote both employability and entrepreneurship. Adjunct platforms like Skill India and Stand-up India, Skill development mission, and financial loans through MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Limited) Bank are designed to support integral entrepreneurial spirit among young entrepreneurs. Besides all these colossal schemes, few factors should be re-considered for upward mobility of entrepreneurs who wanted to turn their dream into reality in rural areas. Factors like lack of entrepreneurial skills and competencies, dearth of funds, lack of infrastructure like water, electricity, transportation etc. The paper attempted to identify major challenges and problems confronted by entrepreneurs in terms of utilizing their own resources and initiatives or schemes provided by the Indian government in rural areas. The present study also analyzed the contribution made by rural entrepreneurs in economic development. In order to reach the objectives, an explorative study was conducted. The conclusion and the way forward are also discussed.

Watershed governance or intake governance? Implications of Ontario’s Clean Water Act on collaborative watershed governance in rural areas

This research examines the extent to which the Clean Water Act (S.O. 2006, c. 22) (CWA) in Ontario, Canada is an example of collaborative watershed governance, with a focus on rural communities. This research also provides lessons for source water governance in Ontario and elsewhere, while contributing to the evolving collaborative governance theory development from the perspective of water governance. A case study approach was employed that incorporated in depth exploration of 30 key informants’ experiences within the Cataraqui Source Protection Area and the North Bay-Mattawa Source Protection Area. The findings of this study suggest that the source protection planning process under the CWA improved communication, collaboration, transparency, integration, knowledge sharing, and trust amongst watershed actors. However, there are still improvements to be made to make this process a model example of collaborative watershed governance. Communities and individuals within watersheds contributing to source water supplies need to better understand their role in source protection efforts. Factors such as the inflexibility to accommodate local concerns in the legislated planning process, uncertainty regarding funding for implementation efforts in the future, and an absence of public interest, have all negatively impacted the effectiveness of the collaborative governance of source water supplies in rural Ontario. Furthermore, there was a lack of community-level ownership of the source protection plans within the source protection areas that were not impacted by binding policies. There is a need for the source protection process under the CWA to better involve the entire watershed in future source water protection planning efforts.

Principio de Subsidiariedad en los programas europeos de desarrollo rural: LEADER después de la Agenda 2000 en Castilla-La Mancha

LEADER, más allá de ser un programa de desarrollo rural, simboliza un cambio de paradigma en la gobernanza territorial de los espacios rurales. Esta metodología irrumpió en los años 90 en sintonía con las corrientes de desarrollo local y modernizaría los modelos de intervención pública. A pesar del potencial que supone, se han observado ciertas deficiencias en su aplicación. Los objetivos de este artículo son proporcionar una evaluación operativa de los programas europeos de desarrollo rural basados en la metodología LEADER y explorar los niveles de gestión de los programas. Para ello se realizaron entrevistas a gerentes de Grupos de Acción Local (GAL) tomando como estudio de caso la Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla-La Mancha. Las restricciones normativas contrarias al principio de subsidiariedad, las características socioculturales de la población local, los localismos, la integración de las políticas con los sectores estratégicos o la falta de identidad territorial se identificaron como las principales debilidades en el diseño y aplicación de los programas con enfoque LEADER.

Climate change adaptation case studies: Impacts of drought and floods on local farming

It’s not easy; the current local community really is that climate change and associated disasters are becoming more intense, unpredictable, frequent and costly impacting on rural and urban areas. How can we help communities? Many rural communities, particularly in low income countries and their local governments, residents and small to medium business enterprises (SMEs), find in the context of climate change adaptation that shifting towards Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) difficult. Local governments in rural areas particularly in developing countries and SMEs are often exposed and cannot better protect and prepare themselves. However, there are many resilient rural communities, farmers, businesses and good tools and examples where more public-private sector partnerships can help local government and business shift to DRR. This paper/presentation will review 3 case studies, based on research in this area at CESDI – Griffith University’s’ Centre for Sustainable Development for Indonesia with its main office in Brisbane, Australia

Local economic activities serving good governance in rural areas

The aim of this study is to give an overview on the concepts and practices of governance and good governance in the world with the recent Hungarian research results. It has always an important issue how good governance can lead to the development and catching up of rural areas, how it can translate economic growth to the welfare of people. Good governance has been placed high on the agenda of development policies, since it is supposed to create an environment in which sustained economic growth becomes achievable. Therefore, good governance has key importance in the development of rural areas which are mainly disadvantaged regions of Hungary and their sustainable development is a must. However, based on their current resources and socio-economic status, rather recession can be observed instead of their development. Several studies have been made in relation to the development potentials of Hungarian rural areas, calling attention on endogenous development strategies. This paper intends to focus on the role of good governance in achieving the expected targets.

Biomass energy utilization and soil carbon sequestration in rural China: A case study based on circular agriculture

Biogas projects have been promoted by the Chinese government in rural areas for several decades. However, these projects have proceeded slowly under the lack of biogas production technology. A circular agricultural experiment in combination with a local biogas promotion project was carried out in Jiangjiazhuang, a typical agricultural village in China, from 2008 to 2015. Agricultural production proceeded in an agricultural loop: “Crops → Grains/crop residues → Human/cattle → Human/cattle excreta → Biogas digester → Biogas/biogas residues → Domestic fuels/organic fertilizers → Crops.” The abundant crop residues were used as cattle forage to turn the biomass energy into human-edible food. Human/cattle dejecta was used as the substrate to produce biogas for livelihood energy. Biogas digester residues were used as organic fertilizers after composting to improve soil quality and crop yield. The results showed that the proportion of crop residues used for cattle forage increased from 1.3% in 2008 to 86.2% in 2015, while cattle population increased from 3 to 198. The proportion of biogas in total household energy increased from 1.1% in 2008 to 62.3% in 2015. Soil organic carbon increased under organic fertilizer application from 83.8 Mg C hm−2 to 213.5 Mg C hm−2. Our findings demonstrate that the promotion of circular agriculture may effectively enhance the utilization rate of biomass energy (crop residues) and reduce the consumption potential of fossil energy over 50%. Circular agriculture is a sustainable agricultural system that could improve the environmental conditions in rural areas.

Channels of financial sector development and rural-urban consumption inequality in India

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the direct (microcredit), medium-direct (bank credit), and indirect (through economic growth) effect of financial sector development (FSD) on rural-urban consumption inequality (RUCI) in India using state-wise annual data from 1999-2000 to 2011-2012. Design/methodology/approach A panel data analysis for a sample of 15 major Indian states using the generalized method of moments estimators provides an empirical evidence for the direct (microcredit), medium-direct (bank credit), and indirect (economic growth) effect of FSD on RUCI. Findings FSD is pro-urban in India resulting in a declining rural-urban consumption ratio (RUCR) and increasing RUCI. The negative effect of FSD on RUCR is greatest through the medium-direct channel followed by the indirect and direct channels. Research limitations/implications The study questions the social banking initiatives of the government in rural areas where more than 80 percent of the poor reside. There is a need for restructuring financial inclusion programs with a shift in their focus on rural areas and an improved mechanism to target the poor. Originality/value The paper proposes that formal financial services by banks are primarily availed by non-poor and urban population and hence acts as a medium-direct channel whereas the semi-formal financial services by microfinance institutions specifically target the rural poor and act as a direct channel to affect the poor. It is the first ever study to use state-wise data on microcredit disbursed under Self-help Group Bank Linkage Program to assess the direct impact of FSD on RUCI.

Tradisionele Leiers: Erkenning en die Pad Vorentoe

There has for many years been legal recognition of Traditional Leaders in South African laws, such as the Black Administration Act 38 of 1927 and regulations and proclamations issued in terms of other legislation. Recently legal recognition was confirmed in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996. 
 Additional recognition of Traditional Leaders and the institution of Traditional Leadership is found in the various provincial legislation providing for Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders and the establishment and functioning of the National Council of Traditional Leaders. 
 Yet the institution of Traditional Leadership has over the past few years given rise to much controversy. There are those who argue that the institution is outdated and others who regard Traditional Leaders as custodians of customary values and the only leaders who are truly responsible for the well being of communities historically and religiously entrusted to them. 
 Traditional leaders fulfil a variety of functions in rural society, including that of presiding officer in customary courts, mediator of disputes, advisor in agricultural and family matters, guardian of young, old, infirm and abandoned. They perform legislative, executive and judicial functions according to the wish of the majority of the members of the tribe. 
 It became apparent, that de facto Traditional Authorities are the only existing form of local government in rural areas in South Africa. It seems unlikely that, in the foreseeable future, it will be financially, politically or practically possible to replace this form of rural government with a comprehensive and sustainable alternative. 
 The future role of Traditional Leadership in the development process is significant in that in addition to the recognition afforded by the Constitution and other legislation, the development law, unfolding in modern day South Africa under a new
 development paradigm, distinctly provides for Traditional Leaders to play a significant role in rural development and development planning at local government level in rural areas. 
 The role and function of the Traditional Leaders of South Africa in the rural development process unfolds as the Integrated planning process comes into operation as envisaged in section 10 of the Local Government Transition Act 209 of 1993 read with the .principles contained in the Development Facilitation Act 67 of 1995. 
 The development principles and the regulations prescribing the process of formulating land development objectives, provides for an inclusive process in which all role players and stakeholders are to be involved. In practice this means that communities, community organizations and institutions, as concerned role players in civil society, are also the concerned and key role players in the development planning and development process at local level. No plan and development strategy will therefore meet the prescribed legal requirements of acceptable development planning standards, if the rural communities and their leaders are not directly and actively involved. 
 Much of the confusion and conflict between Traditional Leadership and Customary Law Councilors on the one hand and elected Local Government Councilors on the other, arose as a result of a misunderstanding of the valuable support role which Traditional Leaders can play in the development process. The difference in the nature and scope of the tasks of elected and traditional community leaders provide a rich multi-facet basis on which a successful local governance system can be developed within the context of the current constitutional-legal framework in South Africa. 
 In many other countries in Africa it was only realized after repeated failures of rural development experiments, that Traditional Leaders and Traditional Authorities constitute a most valuable asset in the rural development process. 

Farms expectations concerning individual projects in mountain areas of Tlemcen province (Algeria)

The present work aims to analyze the expectations of farms concerning the Proximity Projects of Integrated Rural Development (PPDRI) which could be implemented by the Algerian government in rural areas in general, and in mountainous areas in particular. For that, 122 farms have been surveyed in three mountainous regions (Ain Fezza, El Gor and Sidi Djilali) belonging to the mountains of Tlemcen which are north-west of Algeria. The results obtained showed that expectations of farms, in terms of individual projects desired to be made, differ from one region to another. Moreover, the heads of surveyed farms retain a remarkable awareness vis-à-vis agricultural projects that are better suited to the potential of their mountainous areas. In addition, the development of certain high-value agricultural activities which appear despised by many farms and can contribute in a significant way to improve their income sources, requires from the start a considerable improvement of technical assistance proves insufficient in these disadvantaged areas. Finally, public authorities should know good value the projects formulated by farms, and readjust its funding according to the particularities of these areas which are poor and characterised by difficult natural constraints.

Can (Re)Centralization Be a Modern Governance in Rural Areas?

Concentration and recentralization can be described as a European trend in the fi eld of local governance, especially in the fi eld of the administration of rural areas. An important tool of the concentration of the local administration is the intercommunal cooperation. The Hungarian rural areas have fragmented spatial structures. Because of the fragmentation and the small number of the voluntary associations these types of local cooperation were signifi cantly supported by the central budget in the 1990s and 2000s. The economic crisis resulted in a strong concentration trend in Hungary, as well. The new Hungarian Municipal Code introduced a Janus-faced model. The administration of the rural areas was strongly concentrated by the establishment of the mandatory common municipal offi ces of the small villages (under 2000 inhabitants) while the forms of the intercommunal associations were simplifi ed. This reform reduced the number of local offi ces signifi cantly. This type of intercommunal cooperation became the main form of the j oined public service management as well, because the former signifi cant state aid of the voluntary associations has been reduced.

Governing Commercial Pressures on Land in Africa: What Is the Role of Local Government?

This working paper seeks to contribute to our knowledge on regulation and governance of commercial pressures on land by focusing on the role of local-level governments in rural areas in Africa. Recent processes of decentralization in many African countries suggest that – at least in theory – it is at this level where a growing capacity and interest to address commercial pressures on land might be found. Nonetheless, knowledge is lacking on the roles and responsibilities of local government actors. While formal capacities have been devolved to the local level through the decentralization of land governance in a range of countries, it remains unclear which capacities are these exactly. And how do these work out in practice? This paper explores the possibilities and limitations that local level government officials face in their attempts to direct or condition processes of land acquisition.