Call for Papers Papeles de Europa’ Special Issue: Rurality in Transformation
Rural areas are undergoing profound transformations stemming from demographic, economic, technological, social, and environmental changes that pose significant challenges and, at the same time, open new opportunities for territorial development. Depopulation, aging, digitalization, the ecological transition, new forms of entrepreneurship, the diversification of economic activities, and the redefinition of social relations create a complex scenario that requires an interdisciplinary approach.
This call for papers invites submissions of original works that contribute to the analysis of rurality from complementary perspectives in economics, business administration, entrepreneurship, labor market studies, gender studies, sociology, and other related disciplines. The aim is to foster dialogue between different theoretical and methodological approaches that will allow for a better understanding of the dynamics of rural territories and provide useful evidence for the design of public policies, business strategies, and sustainable development initiatives.
We welcome contributions of both theoretical and empirical nature, comparative studies, systematic reviews, public policy analyses, and case studies that address, among others, the following topics:
• Economic development and competitiveness of rural areas.
• Business, entrepreneurship, and innovation in rural areas.
• Social economy, cooperatives, and new forms of business organization.
• Digitalization, artificial intelligence, and technological transformation in rural areas.
• Labor market, employment, job quality, and new forms of work organization.
• Migration, mobility, depopulation, and the demographic challenge.
• Youth, generational renewal, and talent attraction.
• Gender, equal opportunities, female leadership, and the empowerment of rural women.
• Care, work-life balance, and the sustainability of life in rural areas.
• Social capital, citizen participation, governance, and community development.
• Social inclusion, vulnerability, and territorial cohesion.
• Sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and the creative economy.
• Sustainability, ecological transition, circular economy, and territorial resilience.
• Transition of agricultural systems: farming practices, land use, landscape, and biodiversity.
• Social innovation and collaborative models of rural development.
• Evaluation of public policies and rural development programs.
Special consideration will be given to research that employs innovative methodologies or adopts comparative and international approaches, particularly within the European context, as well as research that incorporates a gender perspective and contributes to understanding the inequalities and opportunities present in rural areas.
This call for proposals aims to gather research that contributes to expanding scientific knowledge about contemporary rurality and fosters the exchange of experiences among researchers, professionals, and policymakers, promoting an interdisciplinary debate on the challenges and opportunities of more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable rural development.
Abstract proposals: until September 15
Submission of contributions: until October 31
Submission information: https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/PADE/es/about/submissions
For any questions, please contact the issue coordinators: Lucía Vicent Valverde (lvicent@ucm.es) and Paul Swagemakers (paulswag@ucm.es)
