A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
The dark side of the rural idyll: Stories of illegal/illicit economic activity in the UK countryside
Abstract In rural sociology and rural studies, rurality in many countries is commonly constructed as an idyllic space in which crime is perceived as an urban problem. In other countries, however, rurality is constructed as a place where the individual is vulnerable and the population is socially beyond the urban. This article questions the construction of rurality as idyllic by reporting on research in rural areas which demonstrates that crime, in particular illicit and illegal enterprise based crime, is becoming more prevalent in the UK countryside. In urban areas, illicit and illegal forms of entrepreneurship are distinctive in terms of how they are construed and enacted – so why would it not be similar in rural areas? The paper presents a theoretical framework based on the work of Ferdinand Tönnies which demonstrates that contemporary examples of roguery exist in the UK countryside. We make more visible what previously was invisible, or ignored in the literature. Five stories of illegal rural enterprise are presented which provide a counterargument to Mingay's rural idyll. Since illicit and/or illegal rural enterprise is under-researched this constitutes an original attempt to frame an emerging phenomenon of interest.
Highlights We question the presentation of rural life as idyllic. We present five stories of illegal rural enterprise. We argue that roguery is endemic in rural culture. We theorise that rural culture is criminologically distinct from urban culture.
The dark side of the rural idyll: Stories of illegal/illicit economic activity in the UK countryside
Abstract In rural sociology and rural studies, rurality in many countries is commonly constructed as an idyllic space in which crime is perceived as an urban problem. In other countries, however, rurality is constructed as a place where the individual is vulnerable and the population is socially beyond the urban. This article questions the construction of rurality as idyllic by reporting on research in rural areas which demonstrates that crime, in particular illicit and illegal enterprise based crime, is becoming more prevalent in the UK countryside. In urban areas, illicit and illegal forms of entrepreneurship are distinctive in terms of how they are construed and enacted – so why would it not be similar in rural areas? The paper presents a theoretical framework based on the work of Ferdinand Tönnies which demonstrates that contemporary examples of roguery exist in the UK countryside. We make more visible what previously was invisible, or ignored in the literature. Five stories of illegal rural enterprise are presented which provide a counterargument to Mingay's rural idyll. Since illicit and/or illegal rural enterprise is under-researched this constitutes an original attempt to frame an emerging phenomenon of interest.
Highlights We question the presentation of rural life as idyllic. We present five stories of illegal rural enterprise. We argue that roguery is endemic in rural culture. We theorise that rural culture is criminologically distinct from urban culture.
The dark side of the rural idyll: Stories of illegal/illicit economic activity in the UK countryside
Somerville, Peter (author) / Smith, Robert (author) / McElwee, Gerard (author)
Journal of Rural Studies ; 39 ; 219-228
2014-01-01
10 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
The dark side of the rural idyll: Stories of illegal/illicit economic activity in the UK countryside
| Online Contents | 2015
Re-imagining the rural: From rural idyll to Good Countryside
| Online Contents | 2016
Growing-up in the countryside: children and the rural idyll
| Online Contents | 2000
| British Library Online Contents | 1996
| Elsevier | 1991