Young People in Rural Areas of Europe

Birgit Jentsch, Mark Shucksmith

’This book is a timely and critical intervention into the emerging field of rural youth studies. It is far-reaching and comprehensive and makes an important contribution to our understanding of the mechanisms that affect young people’s participation in the diverse societies...will be of interest to academics, policy makers and practitioners in relevant fields and the Europe-wide focus should attract readers from across the EU and beyond.’ Dr Michael Leyshon, University of Exeter, UK ’This book will make a timely and important contribution to both rural studies and youth studies...This is a weighty book, and packed with detail which will appeal more to the specialist than the reader seeking quick and simple answers, but policy makers across Europe should take note of its conclusions.’ Professor Gill Jones, Keele University, UK ’The main chapters...provide a broad range of perspectives that should be of interest to policymakers, academics and practitioners in the emerging field of rural youth studies.’ Youth Studies Australia ’...a good source for policy makers interested in European policy.’ Social Policy ’Given the historical neglect of rural issues in some social professions and the current resurgence of interest, this book is timely...[it] effectively highlights the knowledge gaps that exist in terms of cross-national data and moves beyond a narrowly focused economic perspective on rural development by illustrating some of the broader issues that concern young people.’ European Journal of Social Work ’...the authors cater well for the needs of both researchers in the field of youth and rural development and policy makers at local, regional, national and European level. The research is a major achievement not only because of this, but also because it fills an enormous gap in our understanding of youth transitions and rural development.’ Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie

• Contents: Introduction, Birgit Jentsch and Mark Shucksmith; Conceptual framework and literature review, Mark Shucksmith; The changing rural context, Toivo Miulu, Alana Gilbert, Euan Phimister and Mark Shucksmith; Methodology, Birgit Jentsch; The attractiveness of rural areas for young people, Elizabeth Auclair and Didier Vanoni; The impact of programmes under the European employment guidelines on young people in rural areas, Gerhard Dietz and Gerhard Christe; Rural youth in local community development: lessons through partnership, Brian McGrath; Rural development programmes and their impact on youth integration, Thomas Dax, Ingrid Machold and Christine Meisinger; Social networks, labour market and policy impact in Santa Marta de Penaguiao, Chris Gerry, Patricia António, Carlos Marques, Jose Portela and Vasco Rebelo; Experience of rural youth in the 'Risk Society': transitions from education to the labour market, Birgit Jentsch; Conclusion, Birgit Jentsch and Mark Shucksmith; Bibliography; Appendices; Index.