Arranging Support for Collective Learning in Rural Areas of Germany

Abstract

More than ever, globalization puts Europe's rural areas at the centre of competing claims between agriculture, residents, nature protection (or exploitation) practices, tourism, recreation and industry parks. To create resilient rural areas which take opportunity from globalisation asks diverse development actors to work jointly towards a common development vision. To arrive at a common development vision requires diverse actors to learn to work together (Roep et al. 2009). It requires actors to develop synergy, joint development visions and joint development activities, for which they need to source and pool knowledge and capacities (Collinge and Gibney 2010, Gibney 2011). Collective learning is thereby regarded as 'the diversity of adaptations, and the promotion of strong local social cohesion and mechanisms for collective action' (Adger et al. 2005 p. 1038).