Introduction

New Labour has made the development and governance of local communities a key focus of rural policy. This chapter sets that focus in the context of wider strategies of government and considers its implications for rural society in Britain. The first part argues that New Labour's concern with making rural communities more active in their own governance and development reflects an ongoing transition in the ‘governmentality’ of Western liberal democracies. In the course of this shift, communities are becoming key instruments of government. The second part discusses the mechanisms through which New Labour has sought to make rural communities more active in their own development and governance. Towns and villages have become key targets of regeneration strategies based on partnership working, community-based service provision and local collective planning. At the same time, the government has held back from radical reform of parish and town councils while emphasising the importance of local government in community leadership. The third part considers the impact of New Labour's policy on rural community development and governance. In particular, it argues that it is likely to have helped reinforce an uneven geography of development and governance.

Community development and governance in New Labour's rural policy

Towards ‘active’ rural communities

Community development and governance is a core focus of New Labour's rural policy. Arguing that ‘active communities’ are vital to the social, economic and democratic well-being of the British countryside, New Labour has made it clear that it wants to make people living in rural areas play a greater part in local decision making and voluntary action.

The importance of community in New Labour's rural policy is made clear in its White Paper for rural England, published in 2000. On the one hand, the White Paper acknowledges that local community self-governance is a long-standing feature of many rural areas: “The community strength of rural England is an important part of the character of the countryside. Many communities are strong, remoteness often fostering self-reliance” (DETR/MAFF, 2000, p 9). On the other hand, the White Paper suggests that community action is to some considerable extent out of line with government objectives.