EXPLORING A RURAL SOCIOLOGY FOR THE FORDIST TRANSITION - INCORPORATING SOCIAL-RELATIONS INTO ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING

In reviewing some of the current developments in the economic restructuring literature, the paper examines the conceptual implications of the transition form Fordism for rural sociology. The author suggests the need for a stronger integration of social relations in the assessment of economic change. Two key dimensions for consideration are production-consumption relations and the reconstitution of labour relations. These considerations bring the author to the conclusion that rural sociology should focus on the integration of international and local processes and give more attention to the social contexts in which these processes are moulded.