Counterurbanisation: comparisons between the developing and developed world

Date
2015-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to address the current paucity of research on counterurbanisation in the developing world and its role in rural development by means of descriptive statistical and hierarchical cluster analysis of counterurbanisation and counterurbanisation destinations in South Africa. The results are then placed within the larger context of developing world counterurbanisation research. The study argues firstly, in line with other recent studies in the field, that counterurbanisation is a meaningful subject of scientific interest due to its proportional impact on the smaller settlements which this type of migration targets. This applies even in cases where it isn't the dominant migration pattern. Secondly, the study finds evidence that counterurbanisation is far more significant in the developing world than commonly assumed, and also far more varied: While there is clear and widespread evidence of typical developed world post-productivist/environmentalist counterurbanisation, research also shows two other distinctive forms: Firstly, pre-productivist/ -productionist agrarian counterurbanisation occurs in countries with struggling urban economies and under-utilized agricultural capital; Secondly, primary and secondary sector-led productivist/productionist counterurbanisation, contrary to the developed world, may well be the dominant form of counterurbanisation in developing countries. These variations have clear implications for migration and rural development policy differentiation in the developing world.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die huidige navorsings-leemte oor teenversteedeliking in die ontwikkelende wêreld en die rol wat dit speel in landelike ontwikkeling aan te spreek deur middel van beskrywende statistieke en hierargiese trosontleeding van teenverstedeliking en teenverstedeliking bestemmings in Suid Afrika. Die resultate word dan in die breër konteks van navorsing oor teenverstedeliking in die ontwikkelende wêreld geplaas. Die studie stel eerstens, in ooreenstemming met ander onlankse studies in die gebied, dat teenverstedeliking 'n betekenisvolle wetenskaplike onderwerp van navorsing is weens die proposionele invloed op die kleiner nedersettings wat deur hierdie tipe migrasie geteiken word. Dit geld selfs in gevalle waar dit nie die dominante migrasie patroon is nie. Tweedens, find die studie bewyse dat teenverstedeliking veel meer betekenisvol is in die ontwikkelende wêreld as wat voorheen aanvaar is, en dat dit ook 'n groter verskeidenheid vertoon: Terwyl daar duidelike en verspreide bewyse is van tipiese ontwikkelde wêreld-na-produktiwistiese/environmentalistiese teenverstedeliking, toon navorsing ook twee ander diskrete vorms: Eerstens, voor-produktiwistiese/- produksionistiese landbou-gerigte teenverstedeliking verskyn in lande met sukkelende stedelike ekonomieë en 'n onderbenutte landbou kapitaal. Tweedens, primêre en sekondêre sektor-geleide produktiwistiese/ produksionistiese teenverstedeliking, in teenstelling met die ontwikkelde wêreld, mag wel die dominante vorm van teenverstedeliking in die ontwikkelende wêreld wees. Hierdie variasies het duidelike implikasies vir migrasie en landelike ontwikkelingsbeleidonderskeid in die ontwikkelende wêreld.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
Keywords
Urban-rural migration -- South Africa, Developing countries -- South Africa, Democracy -- South Africa, Rural developing -- Developing countries -- Case studies, Post-productivity --Developing countries, Rural development -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
Citation