Rural Development

Students are introduced to the new studies and relevant research topics in rural anthropology, reflecting the transformation of the rural communities in the dynamics of political and economic changes. The lectures offer overview of the ethnological, anthropological literature on the countryside in Slovenian and global context. The focus is placed on study of socio-cultural dynamics in rural communities, the images of the countryside and understanding of the urban-rural power relations.

At the lectures the students are introduced to the role of an ethnologist or cultural anthropologist who acts as a bridge between the preservation of cultural heritage and the planning of the countryside development. They are introduced to the basic terminology, the recent activities in the field of countryside development planning in Slovenia and abroad and learn about the basic premises of projects such as substantial development of the countryside and the renovation of villages, other current countryside development projects, Individual cases of good practices, the legislation and individual institutions operating in the field of countryside development and monitoring current activities in Slovenia and abroad.

Students are introduced to the new studies and relevant research topics in rural anthropology. In addition, the course also emphasises the importance of the critical evaluation of dominant policies of rural development.

During the practical classes the students are introduced to examples of good practices in the field of countryside development in the field and they learn to apply the knowledge acquired at the lectures in the preparation of real-life countryside development projects.