prof. dr. T. (Tialda) Haartsen

Already since my PhD research into changes in land use and landownership and how these relate to rural representations (2002), I am interested in what rural areas mean to people. Central theme in my research is how rural place meanings and senses of belonging influence the spatial behaviour of individuals and families, and how they explain reactions to rural community and place change. In my work, I use the concepts of rural representations, rural identities, place attachment, elective and selective belonging, and nostalgia to understand the geographical and social consequences of rural change in the context of depopulation. The core of my work concentrates around two research themes.

The first theme is the motives and everyday life experiences of newcomers, return migrants, stayers and leavers in rural areas. I am especially interested in the heterogeneous character of migration, and how this relates to differences in attachment to, and rootedness in, the countryside. Looking at migration from a non-linear and non-migration perspective has demonstrated the importance of social ties to family and friends in (non)migration decisions and has drawn attention to the neglected perspective of stayers in rural migration research. I am also interested in if, where, how and why migration flows contribute to the uneven development and (un)attractiveness of regions, and to inequalities between social groups.

The second theme is rural transformations and issues of quality of life and liveability. Transitions in agriculture and energy provision, the housing market crisis, and the declining numbers of facilities and services result in emotions of loss and senses of neglect that impact the quality of life in rural communities. I try to understand how rural people deal with such changes. This includes exploring the roles local inhabitants play in actively co-creating facilities to overcome the disadvantages of the rural setting.

My research has a high policy relevance and receives a lot of media attention. I think it is important to collaborate with local, regional and national stakeholders, in order to optimize valorization of research results and to make efficient use of existing data sources. At a regular basis, I am invited to give presentations for local politicians, councilors and aldermen.