Life conditions have changed drastically in rural Denmark during the last 40-50 years, as is the case in many Western European countries. Not many years ago, farmers were dominant. Today, their number has shrunk to almost nothing. The Danish rural population is now very heterogeneous, consisting of many, diverse groups with different needs and worldviews, including many newcomers.
But in which villages do the newcomers choose to settle? Which villages will get enough newcomers to survive? Which villages will win this demographic battle?
What we see today is a merciless competition for survival between the villages. Who can attract the wealthy families with children? Some villages end up as winners – in particular villages rich on public services, voluntary associations, amenities, and close to the motorway net and/or urban areas. Other villages are, however, losing the battle. These are the so-called villages ’without attractions’. These villages are often situated far from urban areas. They appear shabby, and many of them are in progressive physical deterioration. All shops are closed and, maybe also, the local school. No buses go there anymore. The youngsters leave with no return.
It is exactly these two divergent paths in rural Denmark – the paths of the loser and winner villages – that is the subject of this anthology. Except from the introduction, the chapters are based on presentations that were held at the annual meeting of the Danish Society for Rural and Regional Studies, October 5, 2009. The theme of the annual meeting was ‘Thriving villages’. Important issues were: How can we minimize the number of loser villages? How can we help these villages switch track and become successful, thriving villages?