PRIVACY POLICY
PRIVACY POLICY

Laboratory of Territorial Cohesion, Demographic Dynamics, and Rural Resilience

Establishment: 2025

Purpose and Rationale for Establishment

The Laboratory focuses on the study of issues related to territorial cohesion, demographic dynamics, and the resilience of rural areas. Its establishment responds to the growing need for empirically grounded policy interventions, particularly in view of the challenges posed by climate change, population ageing, and the changing rural economy. The scientific mission of the Laboratory is to conduct research and analysis of rural areas with regard to socio-economic and demographic transformations in the countryside, as well as cultural and spatial dynamics and urban–rural relations, with an emphasis on their reciprocal interactions. The creation of the Laboratory contributes to strengthening the strategic role of IKE-EKKE as the national institution for social research and as a body supporting evidence-based policymaking.

Scientific Objectives

The Laboratory’s main scientific objectives focus on:

  • The systematic observation, documentation, and analysis of spatial, socio-cultural, and demographic transformations occurring in rural areas.
  • The analysis of spatial inequalities and territorial cohesion at the local and regional levels.
  • Demographic sustainability and dynamics, through the study of demographic change, with particular emphasis on population ageing, climate change–induced internal migration, and rural depopulation.
  • The investigation of rural resilience, with a focus on adaptability to social, economic, and environmental pressures.
  • The strengthening of the existing body of relevant literature through the scientific articles and publications produced by the Laboratory’s research staff.
  • Research and scientific collaboration with corresponding laboratories of research centres or university institutions whose fields of interest align with those of the Laboratory.
  • Participation in scientific and research activities of EKKE, with the aim of disseminating scientific knowledge and the results of social research.
  • The submission of research proposals in cooperation with other institutes and laboratories of the host organisation, as well as with other research centres and higher education institutions.
  • The hosting of undergraduate and postgraduate students within the framework of internships in scientific fields relevant to the Laboratory.
  • The promotion of scientific knowledge through publications, seminars, and collaborative activities.

Scientific Fields of Activity

The scientific and research activities of the Laboratory focus on:

  • The study of demographic and social transformation in rural areas, viewed through the lens of national and global challenges, influences, and restructuring processes.
  • The investigation of the dynamics of rural restructuring and rural crisis, including new ruralities, rural resilience, the survival strategies of rural households, and urban–rural relations, examined in terms of their demographic interlinkages and cultural interpenetrations.
  • The identification and analysis of emerging rural issues, such as land grabbing, the management of common resources, environmental and social conflicts, migration, social segregation, poverty, the climate crisis, territorial governance, and local development.
  • Issues related to the production and consumption of culture in rural areas.
  • The study of the dynamics of foreign and domestic investment in rural regions.
  • Demographic analysis, with emphasis on the spatial differentiation of demographic phenomena.
  • The analysis of the demographic sustainability of rural areas, with particular focus on population ageing and rural depopulation.
  • Rural innovation, including entrepreneurial, social, and environmental innovation.
  • Issues of well-being of local populations, including health, education, and employment.

Coordinator

Michalis Petrou, Social Anthropologist, is Research Director at the Institute of Social Research of the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE). He received his PhD in Social Anthropology in 2005 from the Department of Social Anthropology at Panteion University. He has taught at Panteion University (Department of Social Anthropology), the Hellenic Open University (European Culture), and the National School of Public Administration. Since 2017–2018, he has been teaching in the Master’s programme in Social and Solidarity Economy at the Hellenic Open University. His research interests and scholarly work focus on the anthropological study of rural areas and urban–rural relations, with particular emphasis on socio-economic transformations and emerging rural issues, including social and environmental conflicts, rural restructuring, local socio-productive systems, land grabbing, multifunctionality in rural areas, socio-spatial reconfigurations, territorial resource management, consumption, cultural identities, migration flows, migrant agricultural workers and host societies, and emerging forms of rural fascism.

Internal Members

Pavlos Baltas, Senior Researcher, IKE–EKKE

Nikos Souliotis, Senior Researcher, IKE–EKKE

Giorgos Kandylis, Senior Researcher, IKE–EKKE

Alexandra Theofili, Special Scientific and Technical Staff, IKE–EKKE

External Members and Affiliations

Prospective collaborations with faculty members and related laboratories from: Panteion University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, International Hellenic University, University of Thessaly

Contact Info: [email protected]