The reduction of rural population in Europe and its impact
Photo: Reuters
Recently, European media has been paying attention to the declining rural population in Europe, focusing on general trends in countries such as Spain, Germany, France, and Italy. This phenomenon is closely related to the overall population decline and changes in Europe, reflecting the trajectory of economic and social development in Europe. Firstly, the overall decrease in rural population reflects the evolution of Europe as a postmodern society. The modernization process of a country often accompanies the continuous advancement of industrialization and urbanization. As a pioneer of postmodern society, only 21% of the population in Europe currently resides in rural areas, which is much lower than other countries and regions in the world. The economic recovery after World War II and the accession of Eastern European countries to the European Union after the Cold War, most of which focused on agriculture, promoted industrialization and urbanization in Europe by integrating into the global and European single markets. Secondly, population dynamics also reflect the development differences between different regions in Europe. The continuous influx and growth of the population usually reflect the economic expansion and prosperity of a region. In the EU, which consists of 27 member states, there is a significant income gap between countries and regions.
This difference is not only influenced by the wealth gap between countries but is also evident in urban and rural areas. For example, Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is one of the wealthiest regions in Europe, while Belgium. However, a Western European country with a higher per capita GDP, has a lower per capita GDP in its Walloon region than the EU average, partly due to the higher proportion of rural areas and agricultural income in the region. Therefore, rural populations within the EU, especially young people, are more inclined to migrate to big cities in search of higher income and development opportunities that better align with their education and abilities. Thirdly, the decrease in rural population in Europe has had a complex impact on the political landscape. On the one hand, many right-wing conservatives and even populist parties have a voter base mainly from marginalized or rural areas, especially the elderly population. As the population decreases and the development vitality of more rural areas weakens, local people may become increasingly inclined to support extreme political concepts due to dissatisfaction with the current situation. On the other hand, the decrease in rural population may also shake the voter base of the Conservative Party, leading to increased uncertainty about the further rise of conservative regimes. The constantly existing and potentially expanding regional differences will inevitably intensify political party competition within various political spectra, exacerbating the trend of political fragmentation at the national and even European levels. This trend and pattern will be reflected in important future elections, such as the 2024 European Parliament elections. Finally, despite concerns about a decrease in rural population, there is still some potential for development in rural areas of Europe. For example, although agricultural output accounts for a relatively small proportion of the overall economy, the European Union is one of the world’s most important producers and exporters of agricultural products. Famous agricultural products such as wine, olive oil, and dairy products are selling well in the global market, indicating the influence of various factors such as agricultural traditions, modern technology investment, and EU common agricultural policy subsidies. As China continues to advance its rural revitalization strategy, China and Europe may engage in dialogue on maintaining the rural population, which will also help enhance the cooperation dimension of China-Europe relations. Overall, the decrease in rural population in Europe reflects complex social, economic, and political factors. To address this issue, various measures need to be taken, including economic policies, social planning, and cooperation between local governments. The impact of these demographic changes is not limited to population levels but also affects Europe’s broader social and political landscape.
By Jiashun TANG
