Ethnography of rural spaces

About this book

This volume is the result of a panel discussion at the 12th conference of the Société Internationale d'Ethnologie et de Folklore held in Zagreb in June 2015, whose theme was Utopias, Realities, Heritages: Ethnographies for the 21st century. This volume aims to unpack the uneasy relationship between utopia and rural spaces in the context of global pressures. The ethnographies presented here offer a rich array of examples combining rural spaces, utopian representations, and neoliberal practices. In attempting to reconcile the desire to preserve the traditional image of rural landscapes in the context of neoliberal practices that threaten the ideal of a rural utopia, imaginaries appear as powerful devices for understanding the world and motivating action.