Next Offered: Summer 2009

This seminar will cover a variety of topics that constitute the study of rural and small local government as well as nonmetropolitan policy. In many respects, this course serves as an informal prerequisite to the study of small local government management in that it is important that one first understand the general issues and problems associated with an area of specialization before one can even consider how to manage such problems or respond to such issues.

Why nonmetropolitan or rural? I believe that Thomas Jefferson said it best in 1785: "cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds." Jefferson goes on to describe both the dynamic yet stable characteristics of rural life and the concomitant impact of the political, economic and social features often associated with life in rural areas. Today, as was the case over two hundred years ago, diversity and the resistance to change in the aforementioned features is still the terms most descriptive of life in rural America.

In addition, rural communities are home to almost one of every four Americans on a land base that occupies over 90 percent of the nation. Their economics are also in transition. Most are no longer dependent on farming, mining, or forestry, but they find it difficult to compete on the new global market. Their people are diverse, embracing many cultures. Their futures are uncertain.

Nonmetropolitan government or rural studies is a multidisciplinary field and will be treated as such in this course. Over the next six weeks, material from government and politics, rural sociology, geography, and economics will be treated in a simultaneous fashion with nightly videos that highlight the field on an international and comparative level.

Bradshaw, Michael, George W. White, Joseph P. Dymond & Elizabeth Chacko. World Regional Geography: Global Connections, Local Voices. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Cloke, Paul, Terry Marsden, & Patrick H. Mooney. Handbook of Rural Studies. London: Sage Publications, 2006.

Folz, David H. & P. Edward French. Managing America’s Small Communities: People, Politics, and Performance. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005.

Your final grade will be based on the successful completion of at least four of six short essays as well as class participation. What follows is a brief outline of the foregoing assignments.

I will distribute six short essay questions worth one hundred points each. As such, you should only need to complete four of them well in order to get an "A" in this class. Each question deserves a response of at least five pages with full citations. The second point is extremely important since you cannot earn an "A" without them. I addition to the readings and videos I should have a few notes to distribute as well.

This is a seminar: let’s keep it light and get something out of the material at the same time. Okay? So you must read the material and participate in any class discussions. In short, class participation is more or mandatory. Such participation should in part be based on issues and concerns developed after reading the course material, as well as personal experiences and/or areas of interest. Obviously, since this requirement is difficult if not impossible to fulfill when absent, class attendance is strongly recommended.

I will use my normal four hundred point scale where 360 points equals an "A", 320 points a "B", etc. Since you have the option of completing more than four of the short essays, simply accumulate the necessary points for the grade that you desire. Since this is a seminar I will also factor in a relevant participation when deciding borderline grades.

June 26: Course Introduction

June 28: Cloke et al Chapters 1-7

               Folz & French Chapter 1

              Bradshaw et al Chapters 1 & 2

              Annenberg Videos 1 & 2: Introduction: Globalization & Boundaries

July 3: Cloke et al Chapters 8-10

            Folz & French Chapter 2

           Bradshaw et al Chapter 3

           Annenberg Videos 3 & 4: Europe: Supranationalism (Strasbourg & Slovakia) & East Looks West (Berlin & Poland)

July 5: Cloke et al Chapters 11–13

           Bradshaw et al Chapter 4

           Annenberg Videos: 7 & 8: Russia: Contrasts (St. Petersburg & Vologda) & Hinterlands (Dagestan & Bratsk)

          PP Notes: Describing Rural Communities

July 10: Cloke et al Chapters 14-16

              Folz & French Chapter 3

              Bradshaw et al Chapter 5

              Annenberg Videos: 10 & 12: East Asia: Maritime Edge (Guangdong & Taiwan) & Farms/Cities (Northern Japan & Tokyo)

July 12: Cloke 17-19

              Bradshaw et al Chapter 6

             Annenberg Videos 13 & 15: Southeast Asia: Mainland (Laos & Vietnam) & Fringe (Singapore & Australia)

             PP Notes: Community & the Economy

July 17: Cloke et al Chapters 20-22

              Folz & French Chapter 4

              Bradshaw et al Chapter 8

             Annenberg Videos 17 & 18: North Africa: Space (Jerusalem & Turkey) & Resources (Egypt & Oman)

July 19: Cloke et al Chapters 23-25

              Bradshaw et al Chapter 9

              Annenberg Videos 19 & 20: South Africa: Strength (South Africa & Kenya) & Development (Cote d’Ivoire & Gabon)

             PP Notes: Mediating Change: Community Infrastructure

July 24: Cloke et al Chapters 26-28

             Folz & French Chapter 5

             Bradshaw et al Chapter 10

             Annenberg Videos 21 & 23: Latin America: Population (Mexico & Guatemala) & Brazil (Sao Paolo & Amazonia)

July 26: Cloke et al Chapters 29-31

              Bradshaw et al Chapters 7 & 11

             Annenberg Videos 16 & 25: South Asia: Urban/Rural (Delhi & Dikhatpura) & Canada: Fragmentation (Vancouver & Montreal)

            PP Notes: Community Power & Grassroots Change

July 31: Cloke et al Chapters 32-35

              Folz & French Chapter 6

             Bradshaw et al Chapters 11 (continued) & 12

             Annenberg Videos 24 & 26: United States: Sprawl (Boston & Chicago) & Economies (Oregon & the Midwest)

August 2: Informal Meeting at SamBs

                All Essays due