Perceptions of Restructuring in the Rural West: Insights from the "Cultural Turn"

Migration, human-environment relationships, changing social values, economic transformations, and cultural transitions are all forces impacting rural regions in the 1990s, yet our understanding of the intersections between these forces is limited. This article contributes to our knowledge of rural restructuring by combining economic and cultural perspectives on regional change through a focus on land use. The analysis highlights how rural restructuring in the 1990s is a deeply penetrating process inclusive of both economic and cultural dimensions of social life. Data from a survey of 422 rural households are used to show how people's opinions and perceptions of recent land use changes are influenced by economic and cultural logic simultaneously; by recognizing the intersection of economics and culture, we can better plan for and respond to contemporary processes of change.