Rural challenge(s): Partnership and new rural governance

In this paper we consider issues surrounding the formation of partnerships for the delivery of rural regeneration. Partnership processes are of vital importance because of the central role they play in the emergent culture of governance which is now receiving a great deal of theoretical attention. We argue that the characteristic forms of governance emerged in the urban sphere and have now 'spread' to rural area, bringing with them the requirement for rural organisations and actors to form partnerships in order to secure funding and to deliver services. We believe that this relatively uncritical transference of partnership requirements into rural areas fails to take account of the very differing socio-economic conditions which may exist in such areas. In a consideration of the Rural Development Commission's Rural Challenge scheme we draw attention to the considerable internal tensions hindering the formation of partnerships in rural areas and the conflicting pressures and constraints surrounding their implementation. We question the culture of partnership and its suitability as a means of securing effective regeneration, arguing for greater scrutiny to be paid to its increased political currency and practical application. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved