Abstract
Reviewed by: Anne MJ Smith, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland
Exploring Rural Enterprise: New Perspective on Research and Policy & Practice draws extensively on the rich tapestry of rural contexts, as a way of deepening our understanding of rural enterprise and entrepreneurship. The preface sets the scene by acknowledging the various iterations of rural enterprise and, noting that indeed it is the ‘underpinning synergy’ of the rural context that enables the diversity of rural issues contained in each chapter, to be articulated in a coherent volume. This book is very valuable in several ways; first, it addresses the socio-economic and in parts cultural genetics of rurality and, second it captures the interplay with entrepreneurship theory which subsequently informs policy.
This book begins with an introductory chapter and a very big question but one that has to be tackled. Henry and McElwee, the volume editors, boldly stitch the abundant threads of rural enterprise into a meaningful approach that create a coherent volume. Key questions are posed with the suggestion that rural enterprise being ‘under researched’ a given, but then the editors concern themselves with the main defining question that binds the volume, is there a ‘categorisation for rural entrepreneurship or is it entrepreneurial activity in rural environments’? The former position certainly presents a complex view in entrepreneurship theory; however, the latter position accepts that the drivers are contextual differences and nuances. After a well-argued theory position, the editors arrive at an agreeable platform which suitably themes the volume: ‘there is no specific category for, nor definition of, a rural entrepreneur… it is the exogenous factors that are different for rural ventures’. The book is therefore organised on the basis of exogenous themes.
Following the opening chapter, a further 11 tackle the contextual nuances that form the exogenous themes and drivers of rural enterprise. Although topic osmosis becomes apparent across chapters the main themes include networks, social capital, stakeholders’ connections and locational distinctions. From a reader’s perspective, these might at first appear disparate and the chapters do not always move comfortably from one to the next but the themes do successfully ground each chapter into a coherent volume. Chapters from Galloway et al. and Kelliher et al. independently tackle the physical and social infrastructure of rurality, each offering insight to how physical and social infrastructure changes the behaviour of rural entrepreneurs but in their own specific ways. Effectively, it is a form of adaption they reveal, both chapters highlighting a demonstration of how effective rural enterprises are at making the most of their environment, be it physical or social. Proceeding chapters lead the reader through a collection of notable studies which address multiple issues around stakeholders. Of particular interest is how stakeholder perceptions are of deep concern to many rural entrepreneurs. The chapter from Moyes et al. demonstrates this point in a very articulate fashion, drawing on policy, the authors emphasise the disconnect that exists between key stakeholders, which in this case includes policy makers, the development agencies, and the owner managers. The evidence clearly demonstrates how perceptions differ and ultimately can create negative outcomes, which in turn create further disconnect between rural business and others. Then, there are several chapters which deal with a very rich yet eclectic mix of stakeholder perceptions – farmers, vets, business owners, and communities – with locational factors from UK mainland, island and eastern European, and African perspectives contributing to the complexity of rural enterprise. One interesting position is revealed through the veterinary practice which, as an essential part of rural life, is explored by Henry et al. at the nexus between farmers, government, and veterinary provision. Evidently, interplay between service provision, animal health, and global food security underpins a global agricultural industry which is so crucial to the health of everyone, yet so rurally situated. Entrepreneurship features so often in farm enterprise yet animal health in the rural sector is one of the hidden exogenous forces. Because of a narrow focus on Agriculture being the production of commodities, so often the nuances are less well considered but this volume offers a unique chapter on Biodynamics which carries a completely different world view on the subject. This chapter notably offers a different viewpoint on organic food production through spiritual underpinnings, but it furthers thinking through the suggestion that such methods of production are in fact another form of social capital. Although the authors cannot provide definitive answers to the practice of spiritual methods they do raise the issue that other forms of capital might exist, and in doing so, capture an aspect of space and place beyond profit maximisation. With such diverse contexts, no wonder policy makers are placed under a sustained spotlight in terms of calls for improved policy and especially for context specific consideration.
Without doubt, the volume is interspersed with chapters that not only offer a rich contextual read but shift towards discussion around locational drivers. Specifically, on islands and rural narratives from beyond the UK, Danson and Burnett embark on an island and remote rural exploration of policy, demonstrating how the remote and island contexts differ from even the rural context through policy impacts on locational drivers. They conclude that much policy is not location proofed, thus disadvantaging and to some extent neglecting the needs of these communities. Criss-crossing continents and an African study on social purpose ventures thread geographical factors through the cultural and social factors offering another country perspective grounded in context. Continuing a global journey, the ethnographical work from Traikova et al. offers a stunning insight to rural entrepreneurship in post-communist Bulgaria. The exogenous forces in this one chapter are particularly engaging and traverse not only the socio-economic landscape but also the political and cultural waves that underpin social capital and entrepreneurial behaviour in start-up processes. The eclectic chapter mix continues with studies that feature interventions based on so many of the contextual community-based problems with insights to an array of challenges that rural programmes face through poorly related context policy. But one of the success stories that stands out is the effectiveness of WIRE. A gender-based initiative, Warren-Smith articulates the importance of locational relevant policy and the benefits that can be achieved in this case for rural women. Finally, the closing chapter from Quinn et al. concludes that there is a major gap in relation to policy in regional business, their study based on micro-food enterprises captures the underlying themes expressed in so many of the chapters.
The recurring feature throughout the book is of course context-based study, and the subsequent interplay between context, entrepreneurship theory, and policy. The more we understand about context then surely the more informed theory development will be and the more effective policy should be. But what now should be done from this point? The authors in all chapters argue for much more research yet all highlight the situated nuances that exist across the multi context platform. Indeed, much ground has still to be gained in the pursuit to better our understanding of rural enterprise and entrepreneurship but with an addition such as this volume to our understanding of exogenous forces then the more attention policy makers can pay to the locational needs of the rural entrepreneurs and better serve the mosaic of cultural genetics so evident in rural communities.