Convenors: Dr. Shengxi Xin FRGS (Tongji University & University College London) and Mr. Shize Zhang (University of Bristol)

Amid the grand narrative of urban triumphalism, a frequently overlooked reality is that over 3 billion people worldwide still reside in rural areas. Notably, while the ontology of the rural faces unprecedented challenges, even in the rapidly urbanising regions of the Global South, rural spaces continue to play a crucial role in national governance, development agendas, and everyday socio-spatial practices. These rural dynamics extend beyond blurred urban-rural boundaries, actively shaping the governance and development trajectories of wider territories.

This in-person session examines the potential of rural areas in the Global South to emerge as hubs for creativity, where rural environments and communities serve as key locations for generating context-sensitive knowledge and innovative solutions. We aim to reconceptualise contemporary rural areas as dynamic spaces that extend well beyond their immediate contexts, where local residents, decision-makers, migrants, and other stakeholders come together, transcending the urban-centric power structures and fostering new forms of creative knowledge production and action. We call for a challenge to the dominant paradigm of knowledge production and dissemination from urban to rural areas, urging a rethinking of rural governance and development in the Global South at the intersection of local knowledge, government action, and social phenomena. By reimagining rurality in this way, we aim to contribute meaningfully to broader debates about the future of rural spaces and policy-making, emphasising the crucial role of the rural South in reimagining development trajectories.

We invite contributions that critically reassess the meanings of rurality, rural governance, and rural development within contemporary global contexts. Perspectives that explore the intersection of rurality with urban, regional, national, and even planetary frameworks are particularly welcome. Contributions from diverse methodologies and disciplines are encouraged to challenge conventional views and expand the conversation on rural governance and development.

Please send paper abstracts to shengxi_xin@tongji.edu.cn and shize.zhang@bristol.ac.uk by Friday 28th February.