Civic engagement in rural areas

Background and Objective

Rural areas often suffer from the dismantling of public services and the associated social consequences. In this situation, the self-organization of local citizens is politically associated with solutions to problems beyond state intervention. Particularly in structurally weak rural areas, where local associations and initiatives often compensate for bottlenecks in the public infrastructure (citizens' buses, village shops, non-police security, charitable services, hospice work) and are key providers of cultural and leisure activities, it is hoped that improvements will efforts to secure services of general interest, social cohesion and, last but not least, support for democracy, because associations also impart values, norms and skills to their members. Accordingly, expectations of cushioning the negative consequences of structural change processes, socio-spatial vitalization and promotion of social cohesion as well as sustainable stabilization of democracy are linked to civic engagement in rural areas.

Whether these expectations can be met is largely unclear in research.The empirical level of knowledge with regard to the distribution and development of civic engagement in rural areas and demographic differences in participation (e.g. gender, age, education and occupational groups) still shows considerable gaps.

Accordingly, the research project pursues the following goals:

• Descriptive analysis of the current situation and of change: To what extent and in what way are citizens and different social groups involved in rural areas? Can changes and shifts be identified here?
• Explanation of regional differences in civic engagement: How are these differences and possible processes of change related to other cultural, economic and structural factors?
• Analysis of the importance of civic engagement: What is the significance of classic and newer forms of civic engagement for the social and political community? Can civic engagement fulfill the hopes associated with it? Conversely, are potentials for social exclusion and polarization tendencies identifiable?

Approach

Quantitative analyzes based on survey data (socio-economic panel, volunteer survey, ALLBUS) on civic engagement in rural areas.

Links and Downloads

The research project is closely related to the project Young and Committed in Associations (JIVE).