Villages in the Future: Crops, Jobs and Livelihood [Hardcover]

Life in rural communities is bound to change with historically unprecedented speed in the coming decades. How will this change be guided by local, national and global policies in order to enhance the livelihoods of rural inhabitants and to overcome the growing division of rural and urban areas? The contributions in this publication, ranging from scientific papers to short reports from practitioners, are grouped around 4 major themes: political and institutional frameworks to foster rural development; natural resources management; broadening the technological base of rural economies; and improved linkages between urban and rural areas. The overall message is unanimous: there is a promising future for the rural areas worldwide if adequate policies can be enforced and more efficient and fair institutions can be created.1 Village Futures: Concept, Overview and Policy Implications.- 2 The Crucial Importance of Urban-Rural Linkages.- 3 The Independence of the Village.- 4 A New Vision of the Rural Worlds Role in a Globalized Environment.- I. Political and Institutional Framework.- Policies to Foster Rural Development.- Introductory Statement.- 5 The Need to Reconcile Village and Globalization.- 6 Policies to Stimulate Agricultural and Rural Growth.- 7 Decentralization and Active Community Participation in India.- 8 Gandhi and Village Governance.- 9 Rural Incomes and Employment in Russias Transition Phase.- 10 Policies to Manage Local Public Goods in an EU Context.- 11 German Policy for an Integrated Rural Development.- 12 Potsdam Declaration Rural21.- Grassroots Movements.- Introductory Statement.- 13 The Active Rural Society in West and Central Africa.- 14 Akina Mama wa Afrika  a Womens Development Organization.- 15 The Darewadi Watershed Development Project in Maharashtra, India.- 16 Grassroots Movements as a Means to Overcome Rural Financial Market Failures.- 17 The Barefoot Approach.- 18 IFOAM  the International Organic Grassroots Movement.- 19 SEKEM  an Egyptianlá