This book reports the findings of a highly influential two year study of how people live in rural Scotland today. The researchers interviewed over 600 rural people during 1993-94 to find out how rural life is actually experienced and what rural people think about their lives and circumstances. The book thus presents life in rural Scotland today as seen by those who live there. The results have been described as of major importance to rural policy and rural research. The book reveals that poverty is widespread in rural Scotland, but that people's subjective assessment of their position is at odds with objective definitions. Take-up of benefits are low, raising issues of overcoming resistance to entitlement and of the invisability of the excluded. Housing was a pervasive problem, as were resticted work options. Services were also a matter of concern, especially the cost of essential private transport. Most worryingly, rapid change and an inability to influence events were central themes in rurla people's accounts of their lives. Rural people feel disempowered, distant from decisions which affect their lives, and at the mercy of events. The results of this research present a major challenge to policy makers and those who implement policy in rural areas. Their relevance goes far beyond Scotland and will be of interest to all those concerned with rural areas. Their relevance goes far beyond Scotland and will be of interest to all those concerned with rural areas and rurla people in Europe, North America and Australasia.
