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‘Just ask Eric’: On the Importance of Governance Efficacy, Territorial Ties and Heterogenous Networks for Rural Development
Author(s) -
Jørgensen Anja,
Fallov Mia Arp,
Nielsen Rikke Skovgaard
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sociologia ruralis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1467-9523
pISSN - 0038-0199
DOI - 10.1111/soru.12328
Subject(s) - social capital , collective action , corporate governance , collective efficacy , cohesion (chemistry) , politics , local governance , interpersonal ties , sociology , order (exchange) , population , political science , political economy , economic geography , social science , geography , business , economics , management , law , chemistry , organic chemistry , finance , demography
Territorial capital is more than economy, business and socioeconomic status of residents. It is also the way residents of localities form social networks and how these are intertwined with the local political, institutional and administrative configurations. Sampson (2011) argues that while social networks foster the conditions under which collective efficacy may flourish, they are not sufficient for the exercise of social cohesion and social control. Networks have to be activated to be meaningful. Interaction is embedded in local traditions and social order is produced locally. Analysing interviews from a rural location in Denmark, we examine how referential features of group life (spatial areas, relations, shared pasts) generate action. We develop the concept of ‘governance efficacy’ to denote the capacity to mobilise collective efficacy in relation to territorial development. We argue that such a concept is an important element in explaining why and how a peripheral location is able to manage social challenges despite population decline.