1.
1 Introduction to Rural Sociology
Rural sociology is a field of sociology that is connected with the study of social life in rural
areas. The sociology of food and agriculture is one focus of rural sociology and much of the field
is dedicated to the economics of farm production. Other areas of study include rural migration
and other demographic patterns, environmental sociology, amenity-led development, public
lands policies, so called "boomtown" development, social disruption, the sociology of natural
resources (including forests, mining, fishing and other areas), rural cultures and identities, rural
healthcare and educational policies. Many rural sociologists work in the areas of development
studies, community studies, community development and in environmental. (Burgress, 2011)
1.1.1 Definition of Key Concepts of Rural Sociology
Society is a group of people who live together long enough, sharing common values and general
interests.
Sociology is a body of facts and principles which are based on scientifically organized
knowledge.
Rural geographically refers to the villages and demographically to the people living in villages.
Rural Sociology is the study of life in the rural environment, which systematically studies rural
communities to discover their conditions and tendencies to formulate principles of progress. OR
According to Burgress defines Rural Sociology as, “the science of the laws governing the
specific Tanzanian rural and social organisation has still to be created. Such a science is,
however, the basic premise for the renovation of the Tanzanian rural society, as indispensable for
the renovation of the Tanzanian society as a whole”. (Burgress, 2011)
1.2 Essentials of Rural Sociology
Rural structure- the type of settlement, Rural Social Organization- the family life, marriage
system, status etc, Characteristics of Village Life- in comparison with urban life, Study of Rural
Problems- the constraints that come in the way of life that leads to some disturbance, Rural
Moral Teaching- the value system, Rural Social Life-social, economic. Material and non-
material aspects, etc. and Rural Reconstruction-compatible interventions for the effective
functioning of the existing system. (Viterna and Robertson, 2015)
1.3 Nature of and Emergence of Rural Sociology
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The nature of Rural Sociology generally implies whether it can be categorized under natural
sciences or under arts. August Comte, the father of Sociology, called Sociology as the queen of
sciences. Some sociologists have viewed sociology in terms of natural sciences. According to
Pierre Bourdieu, “Sociology seems to me to have all the properties that define as science…All
sociologists worthy of the name agree on a common heritage of concepts, methods and
verification procedures”. Most of the sociologists opine that Sociology has all the characteristics
of science and it is, no doubt, a science. Since rural sociology is a specialized branch of
Sociology, therefore it is also a science.
The birth of rural sociology was due to the requirement of the study of different conditions and
aspects of rural life and the prevailing problems that plagues the rural society. Earlier, many
social sciences have strived to provide viable solutions for the challenges found in the rural
society but have not been able to provide viable solutions to them. In order to provide a
discipline for serious and focused study of the rural society, rural sociology was born. According
to Charles R.Hoffer, “Like all sciences, Rural Sociology developed in response to a need. It is an
elementary fact in the realm of scientific thought that a new science comes into existence
whenever phenomena confronting the human mind are not, or cannot be understood satisfactorily
by the existing disciplines or sciences”. (Viterna and Robertson, 2015)
1.4 Scope of Rural Sociology
Rural sociology is a study of rural happenings, relationships and interaction in the village
society. From this point of view its scope is very wide and vast.
Designing policies and programmes for rural development is not possible without the knowledge
of rural social life
The findings of social life in rural areas itself is a guide and a package of suggestion, to bring out
reforms for reconstruction of rural society to meet the days challenges
The socio psychological aspects of rural life provides adequate information to study the non-
cultural material of the society
The study of rural social organizations provides wide scope regarding value systems, which is
very much essential to introduce any structural reforms. (Dunlap, 2010)
1.5 Importance and Significance of Rural Sociology
Rural sociology holds immense significance in a county like Tanzania that is predominantly
agrarian and majority of its population resides in villages. Dependence on agriculture forms the
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fundamental base of the Tanzanian rural life and it also acts as a backbone for the rural
population. It not has an economic role to play but also helps in shaping the moral, psychological
and ideological life of the rural people. But an urban bias has always been noticed among the
scholars and researchers who have hitherto focused their attention on the study of phenomena
and the challenges faced in the urban society. Although, there-fourths of the population resides in
the villages under acute poverty and distress but they are hardly studied upon. The following
may be noted as the importance and significance that have led to transformations in the
Tanzanian rural society that has necessitated the justification of the discipline of rural sociology:
1.5.1 It helps in Class Formation and Power Transformation
The significance of rural sociology in present day Tanzania is principally due to political
transformation and the ensuing class formation. The agricultural bourgeoisie which came into
prominence during this time, eventually, claimed due allocation of political power. Agricultural
development has been convoyed by the augmentation of a progressively more confident class of
rich capitalist farmers, comprising newly rising rich kulak peasants and the middle class peasants
who have articulated their interest through political power. However, the class formation and
class differentiation in rural Tanzania has not been an even process. This potholed development
of agriculture has caused conflict and contradiction at the village level. This has also given rise
to communalism and brought in power the political parties that are non-secular. (Dunlap, 2010)
1.5.2 Helps in Poverty Removal Programmes
The catchphrase for the removal of poverty has taken a multiplicity of forms. The small and
marginal farmers are in arms against the big or kulak farmers. The new peasant movements are a
signal to this new struggle along with other immanent problems like over wage-land to the tillers,
distribution of wasteland, agrarian relations in the context of commercial crops and above all
class discrimination. The various poverty alleviation programmes, in order to be successful and
reach out to the target population, need to understand the rural social structure and the factors
pervasive in the social life. In Tanzania the programme like National Programme Strategies of
Poverty Alleviation (MKUKUTA in Swahili and MKURABITA) are better examples of rural
poverty programmes.(Mundi, 2006)
1.5.3 It helps to emphasize the Changing Ecosystem and Environmental Dilemma
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Numerous factors have resulted in rapid deforestation of the forest and subsequent degeneration
of the forest land. Due to extensive unscientific and unsystematic mining, the forest land is on
the verge of ruin. Both the urban and rural areas are facing devastation due to forest land
degradation. The debate on development and sustainable environment assumed new implication
in Tanzania. It is argued that plans of development should not be made at the cost of
environmental degradation and disequilibrium in eco-system. If big dams provide ample
opportunities for irrigation, they also ruin the forest, mind wealth and turn thousands of farmers
as oustees. (Falk et al. 2008).
The crisis of rehabilitation of these oustees becomes an agricultural disaster. On the other hand,
the development specialists and, particularly the state and the central governments, put forward a
counter-argument that these human resource 'losses' are at the cost of development. There is an
accord in the country that development in all conditions should be eco-friendly. Thus the
significance of rural sociology gains importance in the present context of massive developmental
projects that lead to ravage of the environment. Rural sociology can offer solutions for creation
of environment suitable and eco-friendly development projects. (Dunlap, 2010)
1.5.4 It helps the Politicians/Leaders to meet Constitutional Obligations
As observed earlier, the growth and progress of rural societies has always been a compulsion on
the part of the governments (both local and central) which has to be implemented as prescribed
in the Constitution. The Constitution of Tanzania Article of 145 and 146 establish the system of
local authority. And it is "the duty of the state to apply these principles in making bylaws". As
per the constitutional mandate, the state is asked to build a social order in which justice-social,
economic and political-prevails in all the institutions of the national life. There are a variety of
objectives of five year plans and the development policies but the fundamental spotlight is on the
development of the standard of living of the vast rural population residing in the villages. In this
context it is obligatory to foster development in the rural segment of society. Rural sociology
can, hence, help in providing theoretical approaches as well as practical solutions for rural
development. (Friedland, 2012)
1.5.5 It helps the reduce of loss of hopes to the Small and Marginal Farmers
Due to excessive and continuous segmentation of the land holdings with every process of
succession going through one generation to the other in a period of decades, land today has
become an inadequate commodity. It has resulted into depeasantisation. The new and modern
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agricultural technology has become beneficial for big peasants and seldom is favorable to the
small owners. This has forced the poor small and marginal farmers to leave their homestead land
and migrate to other places. The marginal farmers are on the way of proletarianization as they
don’t possess adequate land that would help in higher productivity. As a result, lower production
leads to lower returns which drag them into poverty and poor standard of living. Rural sociology
can be utilized to study the condition of the poor farmers and its perspectives can be used to
formulate suitable policies that would target the small and marginal farmers. Such a farmer
oriented policy would help in uplifting the standard of their living and provide them with viable
opportunities in other livelihood realms. (Igbokwe, 2001)
1.5.6 It helps in Manage Diverse Ethnicities
Tanzania local authority is an apt example of heterogeneity, diversities and multi-ethnicities
which makes it mandatory to comprehend the village life methodically. There are many villages
in our country that have their own language, dialect, customs, norms and values. It clearly brings
out the fact that thorough knowledge of rural anthropology and rural sociology is essential to
understand the diversities and yet the coexistence. (Little, 2003)
1.5.7 It helps to generate raw materials for Factory Production
It lays stress on the importance of increasing the quantity and quality of production which
improve the economic status of rural society. (Goldschmidt, 2018).
1.6 Conclusion
Thus from the aforementioned points it is conclusive that rural sociology as a discipline holds
immense significance as it touches varied facets of rural social life. In recent years, rural
sociology is widening its horizons. Rural Sociology now studies agrarian relations, land reforms,
agricultural labourers, wage reforms, stratification, rural leadership, environment and above all
peasant movements and struggles. There are troubles of rural people concerning exploitation and
antagonism between lower peasantry and upper peasantry. Rural sociologists have recently
shifted their emphasis from caste, ritual and village solidarity to agrarian relations and peasant
movements. Such a widening zone of rural sociology provides attractive feedback to an
appropriate rural development. It is a holistic study of rural social setting. It provides us valuable
knowledge about the rural social phenomena and social problems which helps us in
understanding rural society and making prescription for its all-round progress and prosperity.
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References
Burgress, E. P. (2011). Introduction to Science of Sociology. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Dunlap, Riley E. (2010) “Climate Change and Rural Sociology: Broadening the Research
Agenda”. Rural Sociology 75 (1): 17-27
Goldschmidt, W. (2018). “Large-Scale Farming and the Rural Social Structure.” Rural
Sociology 43(3): 362-366.
Falk, William W., and Thomas K. Pinhey. (2008). “Making Sense of the Concept Rural and
Doing Rural Sociology.” Rural Sociology 43(3): 547.
Friedland, William H. (2012). “The End of Rural Sociology and the Future of Rural Sociology.”
Rural Sociology 47(4): 589.
Igbokwe, E. M. (2001). “Integrating Rural Knowledge Systems in Agricultural Research and
Development”. Journal of Sustainable Tropical Agricultural Research.1:69–71.
Mundi, N. E. (2006). “Analysis of Poverty Alleviation Strategies of Rural Women in Local
Council”. Oxford University Press, UK.
Little, Jo. (2003) “Riding the Rural Love Train’: Heterosexuality and the Rural Community.”
Sociologia Ruralis 43(4): 401-417.
Viterna, J., Robertson, C., (2015) “New Directions for the Sociology of Development.” Annual
Review of Sociology. 2015. 41:243–69
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