• ROBUST, an EU H2020 project, has launched a blog on rural-urban relations in the time of COVID-19.

Bock and Duncan's research argues that, under the current urban and economic model, rural and urban regions have become separated, leading to a lack of mutual recognition, understanding, and affinity, as well as a difference in the distribution of wealth and interests. This explains why some rural residents are wary of city dwellers who have sought to move away from urban areas during the pandemic.

Differences and inequalities

The authors of the study show that the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the foundations of our societies, revealing the possibilities for contracting the disease, as well as for receiving medical treatment, depending on whether one lives in an urban or rural area. Although the virus appears to spread more rapidly in cities, and therefore contagion is more rapid, it is also much easier to receive care from public health services.

However, this pandemic also reflects the social disparities resulting from the shutdown of industrial and economic activity, in terms of income security, access to education, housing, and food. In this case, the consequences are most detrimental to urban residents, whose food supply depends on rural areas and who require public protection measures to maintain employment and housing.

A change in perception

The pandemic has created a perception that rural areas offer a safe haven from the virus, given their lower population density. This has motivated some urbanites to seek refuge in the countryside. However, in reality, rural areas are extremely vulnerable to public health crises of any kind, as their populations are older and their health services are more fragile and often unable to adequately serve the local population.

Time for solidarity

Current times call for solidarity to contribute to the safety of others. There is abundant evidence of this solidarity, which also extends across rural and urban borders. This is reflected in the many initiatives taken to support local farmers, whether through purchasing local produce or offering assistance with harvesting in the countryside. In fact, rural areas, which have long experienced out-migration as people moved to the cities in search of employment and education, are now experiencing a critical shortage of people capable of working in agriculture and harvesting food. This will eventually impact urban areas.

The study concludes that for good rural-urban relations, recognition, understanding, and respect are crucial, as is an awareness of interdependence . Rural and urban areas need each other now and in the future. At the same time, the authors urge governments to promote greater cooperation and solidarity between rural and urban areas.

ROBUST Project

The ROBUST project is a project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme and focuses on the topic of rural-urban interactions in Europe.

As a research project, it involves 24 partners from 11 countries. It is coordinated by Wageningen University in the Netherlands. ROBUST began in June 2017 and is scheduled to run for 48 months, until 2021.

The general objectives of ROBUST are:

A) Advance in the understanding of the interactions and dependencies between rural, peri-urban and urban areas.

B) Identify and promote policies, government models and practices that foster governance mechanisms and synergies between rural, peri-urban and urban areas.

C) Contribute to Europe's smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by maximizing rural job creation.

To achieve these goals, ROBUST works with 11 partners (“Living Labs) and five “communities of practice.”