New scientific paper: Lack of support undermines the agency of rural villages
Villages across Denmark are struggling to maintain basic services, but often, proactive citizens face bureaucratic barriers and a lack of support. A new scientific article reveals that even when local communities mobilize and take responsibility, structural challenges limit their ability to act.
The new article “Can social capital be exchanged for rural development?” from the Centre for Rural Research (CLF) at the University of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg, focuses on the many citizen-led grocery stores that have emerged in response to shop closures in rural areas. It shows how these initiatives reflect a strong local will to foster development, but also how this will can be stifled by external constraints such as difficult loan conditions, varying levels of municipal support, and a lack of long-term backing.
Development increasingly depends on citizen action
When grocery stores close in rural areas, it is often up to local residents to ensure continued access to groceries and preserve a communal gathering point. More than 100 citizen-driven grocery stores have now been established across Denmark, but many face challenges in securing funding, navigating complex support systems, and maintaining sustainable operations.
This issue reflects a broader challenge: rural development increasingly depends on local citizens' efforts, but without sufficient political and financial support, these initiatives risk weakening or disappearing altogether.
Structural barriers hinder local development
According to the article, two major challenges stand in the way of citizen initiatives in rural areas:
- Significant disparities between municipalities create unequal conditions: Some municipalities are active partners, while others are absent. This means that some villages have better chances of maintaining their local shops, while others lack the necessary support.
- Limited access to financing: Banks and mortgage institutions often view rural projects as high-risk investments, making it nearly impossible to secure loans for establishing or modernizing new initiatives.
We celebrate community spirit—but who supports it?
Researcher and article author Tobias Gandrup from the University of Southern Denmark emphasizes that local agency cannot stand alone:
“There is a widespread belief that strong communities can solve rural challenges. But our research shows that it is crucial for these engaged citizens to be provided with better structural frameworks and a greater degree of top-down support.”
The problem extends far beyond grocery stores. The same issues affect efforts to preserve schools, community halls, and other local services in villages. The current trend means that the future of rural areas depends heavily on voluntary engagement, but without improved structural conditions, many of these initiatives risk collapsing. The article highlights that the political level must take greater responsibility to ensure that rural areas are not left to fend for themselves.
About the article
The article “Can social capital be exchanged for rural development?” is based on fieldwork in 13 Danish villages and analyzes citizen-initiated grocery stores as case studies. It explores how local agency can drive development, but also how systemic barriers inhibit it.
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About the researcher
Tobias Gandrup is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Rural Research. His research focuses on development dynamics, citizen-driven grocery stores, power relations, forms of organization, the green transition, and the local anchoring of renewable energy projects.