Big Rural: Rural Industrial Places, Democracy, and What Next

Rural industrial places are often systems among systems that scientists and engineers heavily shape both in landscape and culture, compounding the problems of their inhabitants and threatening their capacity to practice democracy. Crystal Cook Marshall proposes a range of antidotes to the extraction and destruction of "Big Rural" through National Rural and Sustainable Agricultural strategies, asserting a way forward for the rural that is more equitable and just.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

In her book, "In Big Rural: Rural Industrial Places, Democracy, and What Next," Crystal Cook Marshall presents a fresh perspective on rural areas, challenging the notion that they are unruly and mysterious. Instead, she argues that rural places can be understood and influenced, just like urban areas. Cook Marshall conducts international comparisons, using a case study centered on the Pocahontas Coalfield, to demonstrate how rural places are often complex systems shaped by scientists and engineers. These rural industrial areas often feature single-sector economies with consolidated power and automation, leading to job losses and exacerbating the problems faced by their inhabitants. Cook Marshall engages with a diverse range of rural interveners, including industry professionals, Rural Studies scholars, Science and Technology experts, and policy advocates, to identify gaps in related scholarship.

Drawing from her analysis, Cook Marshall proposes a range of antidotes to the extraction and destruction of "Big Rural" in both material life and knowledge. She suggests potential strategies such as National Rural and Sustainable Agricultural policies to promote equity and justice in rural communities. Through interviews with rural change agents, research, and advocacy efforts, Cook Marshall advocates for a way forward for rural areas that is more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable.

In conclusion, "In Big Rural" offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of rural spaces by challenging traditional narratives and highlighting the potential for intervention and change. Cook Marshall's book provides a roadmap for promoting a more just and sustainable future for rural communities, leveraging the strengths and resources of these areas.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666930740