https://toarcheio.org To Archeio project site Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:54:07 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1 https://toarcheio.org/items/emerging-geographies-of-mobility-the-role-of-regional-towns-in-greeces-counterurbanisation-story/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:48 +0000 http://arc.local/items/emerging-geographies-of-mobility-the-role-of-regional-towns-in-greeces-counterurbanisation-story/ Continued]]> Drawing on the ‘mobility turn’, research in rural studies has engaged with new explorations of mobilities, beyond the now well-explored counterurbanisation and rural gentrification processes, including local and temporary mobility in diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts. This paper explores past and potential future mobility patterns in two regional towns in non-metropolitan Greece in the context of the ongoing financial crisis. Using a choice experiment, we assess the importance of settlement types, family networks, previous residency in the area, cultural opportunities and change in employment type in informing future mobility decisions. The analysis finds evidence of diverse mobilities, and distinguishes between two predominant mobility groups, i.e. counterurbanisers and local movers. We further look at relocation preferences for the two groups and find similar preferences for regional towns. In this context, we provide evidence for the potential emergence of an alternative, i.e. not rooted in pastoralism, version of the Anglo-American ‘rural idyll’.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/leaving-athens-narratives-of-counterurbanisation-in-times-of-crisis/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:18 +0000 http://arc.local/items/leaving-athens-narratives-of-counterurbanisation-in-times-of-crisis/ Continued]]> The purpose of this paper is to explore counterurbanisation in times of crisis. While much of the Anglophone literature highlights the consumption of the rural through counterurbanisation as part of a complex mosaic consisting of pro-rural lifestyle choices, class aspirations and ageing processes, the current economic recession that western countries are experiencing might reveal new ways of conceptualising counterurbanisation. The paper draws on in-depth interviews with counter-urban migrants in Greece. The interviews highlight a ‘crisis counterurbanisation’ triggered largely by unemployment at origin, rather than pro-rural motivations and idyllic constructions of rurality. More importantly, the migrants’ stories highlight the importance of the extended family in counter-urban movements, in terms of the location of destination and the multiple support offered. This supportive family structure is pronounced in Greece, especially in times of crisis, but can be expected to be comparable to other southern European contexts where the role of family replaces responsibilities of the welfare state.

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