Vibrant rural areas – social sustainability strengthens regional development, rural development and future confidence
Text and image: Sven-Anders Sölveborn, board Hela Sverige Skåne
Ystad Summit is a politically independent and open meeting place for our biggest societal challenges in southern Sweden. The conference was held at the regimental area in Ystad from September 4 to 6, 2024, for the third consecutive year, funded by, among others, Ystad Municipality, Sparbanken Syd, and Region Skåne. This year, there were over 70 program points with more than 300 participants, including the Minister of Defense and the new Chief of Defense, as well as over 3500 guests. Free entry for visitors.
At the current seminar on vibrant rural areas, Terese Bengard, CEO of Hela Sverige Ska Leva, was the keynote speaker, and she recalled the results from the opinion survey ”Rural Barometer 2024”. The barometer revealed that 74 percent feel optimistic about the future in rural areas, but only seven percent believe that national decision-makers take rural areas into account, only 14 percent think that societal resources are distributed fairly between urban and rural areas, and 76 percent believe that the state has abandoned rural areas.
The most important issues in the place where one lives are stated as healthcare at 37 percent, education and care at 17 percent, and infrastructure & travel at 7 percent; in these matters, there was no difference regarding right/left party sympathies. The responding 1,594 rural residents indicate that 77 percent feel they have a responsibility to develop the place they live in, and 85 percent believe that one should engage in local organizations.
Terese Bengard spoke about the urban norm that is currently assumed and the language used in economic contributions such as ”support/grants” for rural areas, but ”investments” for cities. She also presented a ”Society's Needs Ladder” according to HSSL as an allusion to Maslow's, from the base to the top of the pyramid: Infrastructure – Security/service – Community – Self-esteem – Self-actualization.
In the subsequent panel discussion, moderated by the development leader of the Study Association Vuxenskolan, Rebecca Sjöstrand, Anna Jähnke (M), chair of the Regional Development Committee Region Skåne, and Hugo Malm from Holma Folk High School participated.
It emerged that In the Skåne strategy, Skåne is divided into Malmö metropolitan area and the rest. There is almost always a place hierarchy geographically with an increased emphasis on centralization. In Norway, they have a completely different approach with the motto ”The whole country in use,” where tax revenues are returned to the rural areas. Sweden has a great potential in the countryside and collaboration is important. In Skåne, the preparedness for food production becomes a hub for the entire country. The metaphor of glass domes submerged over metropolitan areas was mentioned – on which side would the scratch marks come?! There is now a significant proportion of young people who want to stay in the countryside. We have had 100 years of economic development, but still, we cannot afford what we had 50 years ago (especially in rural areas with services, medical stations/health centers, schools, etc.). Economic paradoxes where now planners and administrators (departments, authorities) are paid more than the practitioners, e.g., in agriculture and other practical professions.