Review: Rural Places and Planning: Stories from the Global Countryside

The subtitle of this book ‘Stories from the global countryside’ reinforces that the rural is a global phenomenon. While this may be axiomatic, this book reminds us that there are commonalities across the globe that can be brought to the fore in thinking about the futures of rural places at scale. Emanating from planning the volume is of relevance and significance to everyone with an interest in the rural and ensuring rural places remain a valuable part of the fabric of nations. The central proposition of the book is that the ‘good countryside’ and rural places are produced through certain ‘place capitals’. Consequently, attention to
these capitals by planners is critical as good place making is not about regulation but rather about a community-engaged spatial vision.