Rural People and Communities in the 21st Century

David L. Brown is Emeritus Professor of Development Sociology at Cornell University.Kai A. Schafft is Associate Professor of Education and Rural Sociology, and Director of the Penn State Center for Rural Education and Communities at The Pennsylvania State University.

• Part I. Thinking About Rural Places in Metropolitan Society1. Rurality in Metropolitan Societies2. Urbanization and Population Redistribution3. Rural Politics and GovernancePart II. Rural Communities, Institutions and Environments4. Understanding Community in Rural Society5. Community Institutions in Rural Society6. Natural Resources and Social ChangePart III. Rural Populations7. Youth, Aging, and the Life Course8. Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Rural AreasPart IV. Rural Economy and Socioeconomic Wellbeing9. Making a Living in Rural Communities10. Farms, Farmers, and Farming in Contemporary Rural Society11. Poverty Across Rural People and PlacesPart V. Conclusions12. A Transformed Rural Society: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future

“Rural America finally has a textbook. David Brown and Kai Schafft provide an even-handed examination of rural American society that cuts through the mythology and stereotypes, documenting the processes and issues facing rural peoples and communities. This expanded new edition helps us understand not only what rural America is, but also what it means to be rural in an urbanizing and polarizing world.”Jeffrey Jacquet, The Ohio State University “The 2016 U.S. presidential election made it obvious that the experience of people in rural areas matters for the political, social, and economic wellbeing of the nation. For anyone wanting to get up to speed on the nature of life in rural places, this book is a goldmine."Katherine Cramer, University of Wisconsin-Madison"Deservedly marketed as a standard reading of choice for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in rural and/or community sociology, rural and/or population geography, community development and other related courses."Progress in Development Studies