Introduction to Rural Sociology

Rural Sociology is a sub-discipline of Sociology studying the ways of life in villages. From its
inception Rural Sociology, as House says, "...consisted largely of ethical evaluation and practical
proposals for the improvement of rural life". According to A.R. Desai (2009), 'Rural Sociology is
the science of laws of development of rural society'. The discipline embedded in social sciences is
aimed at scientific and systematic study of rural population, rural social organization, rural
institutions, rural structure, social changes that take place in rural society and rural social processes
for the development of rural life. (Nelson, 2009)

Meaning of Rural Sociology

Rural sociology is the study of the sociology of life in rural environment which systematically
studies rural communities to discover their conditions and tendencies and to formulate to discover
principles of progress. Rural sociology is therefore the study of rural environment and social facts
and social interactions that are found in rural society. As a scientific study it studies the social
organizations, structures and set up. It provides us in that knowledge about the rural social
phenomenon which can helps us in making contribution to the development of rural sociology.

Origin and Development of Rural Sociology

Rural sociology is a new branch of sociology with studies being carried out from 19th century.
The period of 1890-1920 in America saw the rural societies facing many socioeconomic problems
which attracted the attention of the intelligentsia thus establishing study of rural society as an
academic discipline. However, a systematic study of rural sociology in Tanzania commenced after
the promulgation of the Constitution of India and the implementation of the Community
Development Programmes. During the British era in India, sociologists tried to trace for the
patterns of land tenure, customary laws and the functioning of the peasants and the artisans. There
were also researches and enquiries made on the day to day affairs of the rural life. The recurrent
famines in India provoked numerous studies. It was the effort of the Tanzanian Council of Social
Science Research (ICSSR)-an apex body of the social scientists who conducted research based
surveys for nearly a decade. (Smith, 2011)

Scope of Rural Sociology

The scope of Rural Sociology has been changing according to the interests of the administrators,
economists, sociologists and social anthropologists from time to time. The initial subject matter of

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sociologists and anthropologists was to study the society of aboriginals, primitive tribes and forest
dwellers. Then the interest of administrators turned sociologists and anthropologists towards
studying indigenous institutions of the village, caste and culture due to village development
programmes and interest to understand the people of India. Soon after Independence, there was a
sudden shift in the study and subject matter of Rural Sociology. It was realized that unless rural
social problems were efficiently solved, economic problems could not be solved. Thus, the scope
of Rural Sociology consists of study of tribes, castes, village community, rural social
organizations, rural institutions, rural social processes, stratification pattern, similarity and
difference between rural and urban societies, land reforms, peasant movements and struggles,
agrarian relations, rural reconstruction and planning. The scope of Rural Sociology will continue
to widen its horizon with the changes in rural society.

Some Basic Characteristics Features of Rural Sociology

Rural Sociology is multi-dimensional
Rural Sociology is not uni-demensional but it is multi-dimensional as it has orientation to
sociology and social anthropology. It has different traditions in US, Europe and Asia. Rural
Sociology in Asia is more sociology and social anthropology than rural sociology. It draws subject
matter, scientific nature and methodology from both sociology and social anthropology.
Rural Sociology is Inter Disciplinary: Rural sociology is interdisciplinary in its design and
functioning. It draws freely from the sister disciplines of economics, political science, sociology
and social anthropology.
It studies interactions and interaction systems: Rural sociology deals with the study of
interations and interaction systems. When this perspective is applied to the analysis of rural society
it becomes rural sociology.
It Studies Small Places: Rural sociology is the study of small places, such as villages and tribal
habitations. (Sorokin and Zimmerman, 2009)

The Importance of Rural Sociology

Helps in knowing the unique nature of transformation of Tanzania Society
Due to historical reasons, Tanzanian Rural Society has become a society of societies which means,
Rural Society within its frame work includes different rural societies, hence reveals a diversified
cultural pattern. A careful observer can find that all the elements of traditional and modern culture

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are juxtaposed in Tanzanian rural life. This simultaneous operation of traditional and modern
forces makes the Rural Society an interesting field of study. (Sorokin and Zimmerman, 2009)
A great transformation has also taken place in a peculiar way in Rural Tanzania. Such peculiar
nature of transformation may be termed as ‘traditionalisation of modernity. For a proper analysis
of Tanzanian society the study of such peculiarities is highly necessary. Therefore, Rural
Sociology becomes more important in Tanzania. (Sorokin. et al 2016)
For Rural Development and Solution of Rural problems
Rural Tanzania suffers from various social evils to changes the face of Rural Society; these evils
have to be removed. Rural Sociology provides us knowledge about the study of rural problems
and their solutions. When the problems of rural life are solved, the country can make tremendous
progress. Further, the country can be remodeled through rural reconstruction.
Rural Sociology teaches us the various methods and programmes for rural reconstruction. Desai
has rightly remarked that “this systematic study of rural social organisation, of its structure,
function and evolution has not only become necessary but also urgent after advent of
independence.” (Friedland, 2012)
Growing influence of Industrialization and Urbanization
Although the process of industrialization and urbanization are taking place at a Shail’s pace in
Tanzania, but Rural Society is very much being influenced by it. The charges, due to such
influences at one aspect without the corresponding change in the entire system, become dangerous
for Rural Society. The study of such dangerous situations becomes necessary for the smooth
progress of Rural Society. (Nelson, 2009)
Helps in knowing the simple basic unit of study
Microscopic studies have become necessary to understand the complexities of modern society and
its multifarious problems. Srinivas has remarked that “these studies constitute, therefore, valuable
contributions towards social, political, economic and religious history of our country.” Village
forms as the basic unit of study for any such macroscopic analysis. So knowledge about true nature
and form of village life is of prior importance in the present context. (Nelson, 2009)
Scientific study of village community as a prerequisite for democratic decentralization
Through the decentralization of power, economy and administration, the country can make real
progress in a genuine democratic way. Village Community Development programme and Co-
operative Movement are real democratic apparatus for such decentralization. (Nelson, 2009)

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Rural Sociology provides us knowledge about the structure and functioning of organization
The programmes are the three main forces of social progress. Hence, Rural Sociology which
studies the structure and functions of these organizations is definitely of greater importance.
Agriculture is the Tanzanian way of life. The most predominant mode of occupation in Tanzania
is agriculture. Unless, the agriculture is modernized the country’s economy cannot make a steady
progress.
Through the study of Rural Sociology, we are able to know about the agricultural programmes
involvement of the farmers with agriculture and other agricultural mechanisms for its
improvement. If the vast majority of the rural population has to be provided with minimum basic
necessities of life, like food, clothing and housing, agriculture has to be improved. This can be
done when we have adequate knowledge about agriculture, and Rural Society. Hence the
importance of Rural Sociology in Tanzania can hardly be undermined. (Sorokin and Zimmerman,
2009)

Conclusion
Therefore rural sociology has had only mixed successes supporting rural development that meets
broad human development goals. Like urbanity, rurality remains an aspiration and an open
question. Going forward, rural sociology has roles to play in the theoretical and practical
reintegration of society and nature, uncovering and concreting knowledge that will fulfill the
unmet promises of the social dimension of sustainable development, and making a just peace
between the social and biophysical world

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References
Brunner, E. d. (2007) The Growth of a Science: A Half-Century of Rural Sociological Research in
the United States, Harper & Brothers
Friedland, W. H. (2012) "The End of Rural Society and the Future of Rural Sociology." Rural
Sociology (2012) 47(4): 589–608.
Mbithi, P., (2014). Rural Sociology and Rural Development – Its Application in Kenya. East
African Literature Bureau. Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam.
Nelson, L. (2009) Rural Sociology: Its Origins and Growth in the United States (University of
Minnesota Press, 1969).
Rani, Asha and Gajanafar Alam (2012) Encyclopaedia of Urban & Rural Sociology: Social &
Psychological Behaviour (3 Vol, 2012)
Smith, S. (2011) "The Institutional and Intellectual Origins of Rural Sociology" (Paper for 2011
Rural Sociology Assn. meeting) online
Sorokin, P.A., et al (2016). A Systematic Source Book in Rural Sociology (3 vol 20161) excerpt
and text search v 1; world perspective
Sorokin, Pitirim A. and Zimmerman C. C. (2009) Principles of Rural-Urban Sociology (1929),
world perspective