Rural Change: A Reading from De-agrarianisation and Social Inequality

Abstract

De-agrarianisation refers to the set of changes and transformations experienced by rural areas and populations during the process of formation of the world economies. De-agrarianisation, understood as social change, is also a process of transmission and generation of social inequalities. This article deals with the effects that the territorial division of agrarian activities has on the reproduction of social inequalities. Some dimensions of this socio-territorial differentiation process examined in this article are, firstly, socioeconomic and cultural changes in the countryside generate agricultural territories according to flexible productive specialization. These changes also redefine the forms of life of both rural and urban populations. Secondly, changes in the rural-urban differentiation create new socio-territorial connections, which imply spatial reconfigurations. In addition, increasing mobility (migrations and displacements) is associated with the ethno-territorial segmentation of communities. By way of conclusion, this paper highlights different sources of inequality within the de-agrarianisation process.