The Leader Initiative has been a Victim of Its Own Success. The Decline of the Bottom‐Up Approach in Rural Development Programmes. The Cases of Wales and Andalusia

Bibliographic Data

ID10559686
AuthorsFrancisco Antonio Navarro Valverde (0000-0001-5033-7603, Universidad de Granada, corresponding author), Francisco Antonio Navarro (Human Geography Department Granada University Granada Spain), Michael Woods (0000-0003-3813-4138, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences Aberystwyth University Llanbadarn Campus, Llanbadarn Fawr Aberystwyth Dyfed SY23 3A UK), Eugenio Cejudo García (0000-0003-2564-5887, Universidad de Granada), Eugenio Cejudo (Human Geography Department Granada University Granada Spain)
Year2015
Volume56
Issue2
Pages270-288
Publication date2015-01-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociologia Ruralis (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-0199 • E-ISSN: 1467-9523
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/soru.12079
OpenAlexW1506534833
LanguageEN
Citations received38
References cited28

The LEADER approach has been at the heart of E uropean rural development policy for the last 20 years, encompassing the principles of bottom‐up endogenous development and community empowerment. Initially delivered through autonomous local action groups ( LAG s), since the 2007–2013 programming period, LEADER has been integrated with other measures in broader regional rural development programmes. It has been claimed that these changes have diluted the participatory principles of this programme. We examine the extent and impact of participation in rural development through LEADER , how this has changed over time, and the factors driving changes, through surveys of LAG managers in two case study regions in S pain ( A ndalusia) and the UK ( W ales). The findings show that LAG managers are very positive about the breadth of participation in their own group and its role in decentralising decision‐making, but critical of the structure, operation and management of LEADER in rural development programmes. In particular bureaucracy and the increased influence of regional and local government are perceived to have limited the autonomy of LAG s and to have deterred the participation of marginalised groups. The principles of this initiative are perceived to have been diluted and LEADER appears to have been a victim of its own success

Agriculture · Autonomy · Bureaucracy · Citizen journalism · Economic growth · Economics · Empowerment · Geography · Government (linguistics · Participatory development · Political science · Public relations · Rural development · Agricultural Economics and Policy · Regional Development and Policy · Rural development and sustainability

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