Rapid urbanisation inequalities in income and service levels within and between communities
and population and economic decline are challenging the viability of rural communities
worldwide. Achieving healthy and viable rural communities in the face of rapidly changing
social ecological and economic conditions is a declared global priority. As a result
governments all over the world in both developed and developing countries are now
prioritizing rural and regional development through policies and programs aimed at enhancing
the livelihoods of people living in rural regions. In recognition of the important roles that
research can play in rural development a range of systematic literature reviews have rightly
examined key priorities in rural development including education gender economic development
(especially agriculture) and health and nutrition (see Department for International
Development [DFID] 2011). However none of these works has systematically examined the extent
to which rural development as a field of research is progressing towards facilitating
sustainable change. This book evaluates trends in rural development research across the five
continental regions of the world. Specifically it assesses the total publication output
relating to rural development the types of publications their quality and impact over the
last three decades. Additionally it evaluates the continental origins of the publications as
well as the extent to which such publications engage with issues of sustainability. The aim is
to determine whether the rural development field is growing in a manner that reflects research
and policy priorities and broader social trends such as sustainability. Development policy
makers practitioners those teaching research methods and systematic literature reviews to
undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in general will find the book both topical
and highly relevant.
