"This book draws upon selected, revised and edited papers from a conference of rural geographers from the UK, the USA and Canada, held at the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter. It focuses on rural regions that are facing conflicting demands, pressures and challenges, having far-reaching implications for rural space and society. Themes that occur throughout the book include agricultural change, environmental issues, rural communities, governance and globalization, and rural responses to these."--BOOK JACKET.