RURAL SOCIOLOGY

Specific Foundation / Core

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

An agronomist in the field of agricultural economics, must be able to answer questions raised in contradiction with major economic theories and models. For instance how can one explain the fact that in a globalized economy small farms are still surviving? Why there is only a handful of women heads of agricultural cooperatives? what is the role of immigrants in rural economy? What strategies does the rural family develop towards social reproduction? The objectives of this course are-upon completion of the course students will be able: 1) to understand the socio-historical circumstances that led to contemporary types of farms in Greece 2) to understand major socio-economic transformations in rural societies and farming profession 3) to answer to contemporary problems within a farm through the lens of social studies 4) to understand the major rural sociological theoretical perspectives dealing with the causes and consequences of poverty in rural areas 5) to analyze causes and consequences of social stratification & gender inequality in the rural 6) to develop critical skills in evaluating the theoretical and methodological approaches in rural sociology

The subject of the course concerns the understanding of the rapidly changing social environment of the countryside and the transformations that the agricultural-livestock profession undergoes (farmers' identities) but also the rural community itself. By adopting the look and tool stock of the social sciences (theories and empirical research) we try to understand the factors that hinder social change in the countryside, to interpret the reasons for the conflicts around different claims of the concept of rurality etc. The course begins with Introduction to rural Society & rural Sociology, the evolution of rural society in Greece (The Agricultural Issue and the Great Agricultural Reform), the examination of agricultural production factors in the light of social dimensions (land access, land grabbing and biofuels, exploitation of land workers / migrants, social inequalities and access to capital). Gender issues in agriculture. We continue with issues of social sustainability and resilience of modern rural societies, addressing issues of poverty and social exclusion, global social movements around food and resources, but also practical outlets (social innovation) through the concept of Multifunctionality and rural rural areas (agritourism, protection of the environment and culture, etc.). The course concludes with issues related to the Social Representations of the countryside (connection with food marketing), the relationship of the city with agricultural values ​​and the role of food cultivation as a tool for the sustainability of modern cities (Urban agriculture, alternative agri-food networks & Socially Supported Agriculture).

Social transformation, Social Reproduction, Migrants, women, poverty, diversification, family, elderly, succession, homelessness

21-01-2021