On penguins on icebergs: The rural white paper and the assumptions of rural policy

The recent Rural White Paper represents an extensive statement on government analysis of rural issues and its approach towards rural policy in England. It is an important document in demonstrating the extent to which the accepted premises have shifted over the past fifteen years. It shows in considerable detail many local initiatives that have been taken, especially within the private sector, and the role of government in stimulating and disseminating information on good practice. However, it fails to analyze fully the major forces underlying change, generally originating beyond rural areas and commonly from outside of the U.K., which will have major significance in determining the prospects for those living in rural areas and for the quality of the rural environment.