<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The authors discuss the main characteristics of women as farm operators using national sample studies conducted in 1994, 1999 and 2007. After an analysis of literature and various research results some hypotheses were formulated, i.e.: the better education of rural women than rural men, women as “unnatural” or “forced” farm operators due to various household circumstances, the “weaker” economic status of farms operated by women. Basic results of the studies carried out in 1994, 1999 and 2007 confirm the hypothesis about the weaker economic position of female operated farms. Moreover, women farm operators were slightly older and far better educated than their male counterparts. On the contrary, the males were more active off the farms in the public sphere. In addition, the circumstances of becoming farm operators did not differ significantly between males and females. Finally, there were no significant differences between “male” and “female” styles of farming.</abstract>

Women on… Combine Harvesters? Women as Farm Operators in Contemporary Poland

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> This research describes the influence that farm size has on gendered involvement in crop cultivation and decision making about what crops to grow where, irrigation and marketing among small and medium-sized farmers in Moldova. Findings reveal that overall crop cultivation is characterized by gendered patterns that vary according to farm size. Overall men have much more input into decision making than do women but women on small farms have more input in decisions than do the women on medium-sized farms. However, women on medium-sized farms are more involved in the diverse range of cultivation activities in terms of labour.</abstract>

The Influence of Farm Size on Gendered Involvement in Crop Cultivation and Decision-making Responsibility of Moldovan Farmers

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This paper is an interpretative approach of a conflicting state of affairs in the Danube Delta, Romania, where local communities of Russian and Ukrainian fishermen claim their “rights” of wetland management in the context of (and sometimes against) the government policies of “conserving biodiversity”. My general assumption is that divergences acting between fishermen and the authorities in the Danube Delta are essentially rooted in a kind of “generalized (but not insurmountable) incongruity” of two such occupational and institutional “worlds” and, moreover “worldviews”.</abstract>

On the Ethnographic Categorization of Biodiversity in the Danube Delta “Biosphere Reserve”

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> This article offers an ethnographic exploration of the Vlachs in the Branicevo region of Serbia. The Vlachs rarely exist anywhere as a distinct ethnic group due to their permanent assimilation with other ethnic groups. The thing that has always been linked to the folklore of the Vlachs and still attracts a large number of people to come and visit some remote parts of Eastern Serbia is definitely a certain mystery which represents the essential part of the culture of this nation. Instances of Vlach magic can be seen in the Timok area, all over Eastern Serbia and across its borders. Vlach magic is a miracle or is miraculous, when looking at how long it has been present, its unique rituals, beliefs, shamans and spells.Vlach culture intertwined with pagan customs and interesting rituals, makes the municipalities in Eastern Serbia mysterious places in modern 21st century Europe, because the Vlachs are a mostly closed (endogamous) population which do not blend with people of other nationalities.</abstract>

The Mystery of Vlach Magic in the Rural Areas of 21st century Serbia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The debate as to whether Slovak post-socialist agricultural cooperatives are cooperatives or not represents one of the focal points of their post-1989 development. The answer to this question determined and/or legitimized the rationale for the legislative framework concerning their post-socialist transformation. This analysis draws mainly on data from the parliamentary debates that preceded the enactment of three pivotal laws. In comparing the debates in 1991/1992 and 1995, the examination focuses on the shift in the argumentation put forward by representatives speaking on behalf of cooperative farms. A dramatic shift in reasoning about the character of cooperative enterprises and appropriate voting rights is interpreted as a pragmatic, effect-oriented action. It is argued that both delicate work with the hybrid nature of post-socialist cooperative farms as well as the initial withholding of cooperative principles contributed to the preservation of the specific kinds of agricultural cooperative, and consequently also large corporate farm, which now exist in Slovakia.</abstract>

A Far-reaching Shift in Argumentation: Parliamentary Debates on (post-)socialist Agricultural Cooperatives in the 1990s

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Starting from the findings a Romanian research group gathered during the project “Models of mass-media consumption in the Romanian rural world: traditional identities, European identities” of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies, University of Bucharest, this article identifies some risk factors in the conceptual design of an audiovisual programme for the rural world. These factors are: (1) differences in the definitions of the public - in our case, the Romanian peasant - as they are held by the journalist, the programme editor, the sources and by the public itself; (2) a quasi-general lack of vision about the future of the rural world, based on a lack of information; and (3) deficiency in applying journalistic information gathering techniques and text writing rules. The conclusions are based on media product analysis of business journalism programmes broadcast by the Romanian public broadcasting services for rural audiences and on questionnaire-based and in-depth interviewing with potential members of the public.</abstract>

The Business Media for the Rural World – an Analysis on the Romanian Audiovisual

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The non-profit sector in Hungary has been studied in connection with its number, spread and regional distribution in the last two decades, but now it is necessary to explore the organizational, functional, employment, financial, co-operation possibilities and limitations of employment-related non-profit organizations. Another new contribution of this paper is that it gives so-called regional need-maps, which can explore unsatisfied demands in services for which employment can be organized. The selection process of the organizations in the study was supported by the list of winners of labour market tenders. These selected organizations are exclusively employment-related ones, and are able to implement labour market programmes. From the point of view of the regional spread of the social economy it is of paramount importance to disclose - even at sub-regional level - the most important unsatisfied needs that would be provided by non-profit organizations. With the non-profit supply of these services in certain small regions up to hundreds of continuous employment problems could be resolved.</abstract>

The Non-profit Sector and Employment Expansion in the Rural Areas of Hungary

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 28 (2022): Issue 1 (December 2022)

Volume 27 (2021): Issue 1 (December 2021)

Volume 26 (2020): Issue 1 (December 2020)

Volume 25 (2019): Issue 1 (December 2019)

Volume 24 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

Volume 23 (2017): Issue 1 (December 2017)

Volume 22 (2016): Issue 1 (December 2016)

Volume 21 (2015): Issue 1 (December 2015)

Volume 20 (2014): Issue 1 (December 2014)

Volume 19 (2013): Issue 2013 (December 2013)

Volume 18 (2012): Issue 2012 (January 2012)

Volume 17 (2011): Issue 2011 (January 2011)

Volume 16 (2010): Issue 2010 (January 2010)

Volume 15 (2009): Issue 2009 (January 2009)

Eastern European Countryside

 Eastern European Countryside - printed volumes 23'2017 and 24'2018 - task financed under the agreement 785/P-DUN/2017 with funds Minister of Science and Higher Education for dissemination of science activities.  Eastern European Countryside - digital volumes 24'2018 and 25'2019 - task financed under the agreement 706/P-DUN/2018 with funds Minister of Science and Higher Education for dissemination of science activities.   Developed by Institute of Sociology at Nicolaus Copernicus University as an international platform for the sociological discourse on Eastern and Central European countryside developments, EEC publishes research on CEE countryside rather than research by CEE researchers. The journal covers social theory and analysis on two levels: comparative research on European countryside, and CEE countryside in international perspective. Concentrating on the present, EEC articles examine themes reflecting recent and significant changes in CEE countryside from a cross-disciplinary view point. The journal is essential reading for all sociologists, economists, political scientists and social policy analysts wishing to keep abreast of the very latest debates in this part of Europe.  The aim of the EEC is to provide a medium for the publication of original papers covering the entire span of sociological thought and research concerning Central and Eastern European countryside. The Editors are particularly keen to publish work on current developments in research and analysis.  Why subscribe and read  EEC is the only periodical dealing with countryside change in Central and Eastern Europe (countries which underwent a fundamental system transformation after 1989, abandoning socialism for a democratic system based on the free market economy). It presents the process of change in the legislative, organizational, economic, social areas, predicted consequences of these changes. Most of texts are about socio-economic, political, cultural phenomena in the lives rural communities undergoing change.  Why submit  EEC provides international circulation for research results and academic works generally published only in national Eastern and Central European countries languages and thus restricted within the borders of a particular country market.  The readership of the periodical – whose yearly circulation is between 100/200 copies is relatively wide. These are individuals and institutions in whole World (we have readers from Asia, Northern America and others) interested both in the progress of change process in the legislative, organizational, economic and social areas in Eastern and Central European Countries as well as the known and predicted consequences of these changes.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 