The recent Rural White Paper represents an extensive statement on gove
rnment 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 initiative that have been
taken, especially within the private sector, and the role of governmen
t in stimulating and disseminating information on good practice. Howev
er, it fails to analyze fully the major forces underlying change, gene
rally 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 envir
onment. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd