LEADER and leadership - Democratic aspects of rural development planning in the municipality of Karlshamn

Abstract: The rural regions have, and are facing, challenges on how to keep population, services and businesses. As of this, rural development focus has shifted towards the place-specific qualities by integrating local actors. This thesis focuses on analyzing the LEADER-methods approach to rural development in the municipality of Karlshamn, by interviewing local population to achieve an understanding of the place-specific attractivity features of the rural areas in Karlshamns municipality. The purpose is to analyze a local rural development project, called ‗Ett steg längre‘ by uniting a theoretical framework with empirical findings and to be providing constructive critique regarding this rural development process. The conducted interviews give some clarity in regard to place-specific attractivity features as well as democratic aspects to consider in this process. The development approach most desired is a preservationist one; the nature-related qualities are seen with utmost importance for the local attractivity. The LEADER-method is also found to be a functioning democratic approach in rural development planning, if following its core principles, and could be enhanced through functioning internet-connectivity with the local actors. The thesis will allow for both a deeper theoretical understanding of the LEADER-method‘s approach to rural development but also empirically, through the interviews regarding the rural areas in Karlshamns municipality.