Our research project takes the perspective of inhabitants and asks how demographic change affects daily life and living arrangements in rural areas and small-towns.

Background and Objective

This research project focuses on the analysis of regional, rural living conditions. Up until now we have learned much too little about motives for living in villages and small towns, residents’ conceptions of life and how they arrange their everyday life in view of specific regional conditions.

Aims of this project are:

(1) To empirically analyse an individual resources and the socio-spatial contexts of the inhabitants of rural peripheries and small towns in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in a purposeful theoretically profound manner.

(2) to critically question persistent stereotypes of rural and small-town lifestyles.

Approach

In this research project we use narrative interviews with residents and qualitative analysis methods to look at rural areas and small towns in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Our Research Questions

• What characterizes life in rural areas and small towns and how is this life experienced by inhabitants?
• What relevance do regional structures have for residents and their everyday living arrangements?
• Which conditions affect decisions about leaving or staying in the region?
• Which factors ensure quality of life in villages and small-towns?
• Which relations and distinctions can be identified to other forms of settlements (e.g., big cities)?

Links and Downloads

Personal web page Melanie Rühmling (Univ. of Rostock)

Personal web page Sara Schiemann (Univ. of Rostock)

Thünen-Contact

• Klärner, Andreas Institute of Rural Studies

Involved external Thünen-Partners

• Universität Rostock
  (Rostock, Deutschland)

Funding Body

• Bundesland Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  (national, öffentlich)

Duration

10.2017 - 9.2020

More Information

Projekt type:
Project status: ongoing

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