In the history of rural sociology, the city has taken its place next to the countryside as animportant research area, and our research is no longer limited to the professional foodproducer. The article can be found on p. 133

Multifunctional farming – an umbrella term used to indicate a combination of agricultureand services to society – has been a research subject for the Rural Sociology Group for decades. One new multifunctional activity is education at the care farm. The article can be found on p. 131.

In the context of public budget cuts and rural areas facing depopulation and aging, local governments increasingly encourage citizen engagement in addressing local livability issues. This paper examines the non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents (45+ years old) in civic initiatives that intend …

Over the past few decades the damage being done to global ecosystems by established development trajectories has become increasingly evident. In many sectors and regions sustainability transitions are gathering pace as new technologies, business models and social practices begin to transform existing …

When citizens’ initiatives stop: a case-study in the rural areas of the Netherlands

Rural service provision through citizen initiatives: stable alternative or a spur-of-the-moment?Against the backdrop of depopulation and Big Society, citizen initiatives in rural areas are believed to be able to mitigate service-provision inequalities between urban and peripheral regions. Factors influencing …

How to define succesful citizens' initiatives? A professional perspective.In the backdrop of depopulation and the participation society, citizen initiatives in rural areas are expected to contribute to community liveability by maintaining various types of facilities in the area. Studies on which factors …