Rural Sociology: Rural Sociology is a branch of sociology which studies rural society.

Rural
sociology studies the relations of the people who live in the villages. Rural sociology is a scientific
discipline focused on all aspects of a rural way of life, including its customs, demographics, and
interactions with urban groups.
According to Sanderson, “Rural sociology is the sociology of life in the rural environment.”
Scope/Subject matter of Rural Sociology
(i) A Study of Rural Community
Rural sociology is concerned with the characteristics, features, nature and human ecology of
village community. It is also the study of activities of rural people. Through these activities we
know the institutional objects of the community.
(ii) A Study of Rural Social Structure
Rural sociology studies the various components of rural social structure. For example, village
community, caste, class, dominant caste, jajmani system, caste and politics, backward class etc.
(iii) A Study of Rural Institutions
Rural sociology studies the structure, characteristics and functions of rural social institutions. It
studies the institutions like family, marriage, kinship, religion, caste etc. in the rural context.
(iv) A Study of Rural Social Organization
In rural sociology rural social organisations are unavoidably studied. It includes the study of
rural family pattern, marriage, rural social stratification, educational system, religion, cultural
institutions etc.
(v) A Study of Rural Problems
The subject matter of rural sociology includes the problems of rural life such as social,
economic, political and cultural problems. Rural social problems are increasing day-by-day. It is
essential that these should be solved in a planned way. It requires separate analysis because the
cause and consequences of these problems are different from the problems in general. These
problems include poverty, illiteracy, religious superstitions, traditionalism, inadequate housing,
rural unemployment etc.
(vi) A Study of Religion and Culture
In rural society religion and culture of rural people are given more emphasis. Because these are
the indispensable part of their lives. Religion plays an important role in rural society. Rural
society is basically religion-oriented society. It acts as an informal means of social control. The
rural people follow all the rules and regulations related to religion and culture. Culture includes
old customs, traditions, folkways, norms, values, etc. Rural sociology studies the complexity of
rural culture, cultural patterns etc.
(vii) A Study of Rural Social Process
Different social processes such as cooperation, competition, integration, differentiation, isolation
etc., that take place in rural society are also studied in rural sociology.
(viii) A Study of Rural Social Control
Rural sociology is also a study of rural social control. Social control is the control over the
society. It starts from the family level. Rural sociology significantly studies the infernal means of
social control like customs, traditions, folkways, mores, norms, religion etc. Social controls are
more social than legal. The fear of boycott from the social function is more powerful control than
any other legal punishment. Social control may be conducted in various ways. It varies from
society to society.
(ix) A Study of Social Change
Social change is the change in the social relationships; the changing aspect of any system of the
society. Due to the impact of modern education, means of transport and communication,
modernisation, urbanisation, industrialisation, the rural society is now undergoing tremendous
changes. Only through change, the way of progress and change can be possible. Rural sociology
studies the various factors responsible for social change in a very systematic way.
(x) A Study of Rural Reconstruction
Rural reconstruction is an important aspect of life and without which development is impossible.
Rural sociology studies various plans and programmes relating to community development
programmes. It also studies different laws of government regarding the reconstruction of village
community. Rural society needs rural planning and reconstruction in a systematic and planned
manner. Rural sociology serves the purpose and provides guidelines to the institutions and
organisations which are engaged in developmental tasks. Thus planning and reconstruction of
rural society forms the subject matter of rural sociology.
(xi) A Study of Rural – Urban Continuum and Contrast
Rural sociology studies rural—urban contrast and continuum on the basis of social, economic,
religious and cultural point of view. Both village and city hypothetically are two contrasting
modes of community life. It has to be studied in a scientific manner. By studying the comparison
between these two, it can meet different plans and programmes for the development of rural
community.
(xii) A Study of Planning
Rural sociology is a study of social planning relating to rural society. Community development
projects, Panchayati Raj, Co-operative movements are coming under this study. Their success
and failure can only be measured by the study of rural sociology. It is the prime objective of rural
sociologist to show exact position of different plans and programmes which have been
implemented in the rural areas.
Thus, the scope of the study of rural sociology is very wide and comprehensive. Although it is a
young and developed science, it studies various aspects of social life and social problems
concerning rural life and rural society to a great extent.

❖ Rural social structure (will search “rural social structure, social change and
continuity SlideShare” on google and then will read only 29-31 slide)

Rural power structure: Power is a type of force that influences the decisions, desires, opinions,
and even behaviours of others. Power is the ability to impose one's decisions, wishes or beliefs on
others. And the power structure is the process or system of exercising power. The process or
structure through which power can be applied is called power structure.
The class structure and system of power exercised in rural society is called the rural power
structure. Eminent economist Dr Atiur Rahman, in his book titled 'Bangladesher Unnayoner
Sangram' (Struggle for Development in Bangladesh), mentioned that "the structure through which
social forces develop in rural society can be called rural power structure in the context of the
position of classes, their interrelationships, their role in social and economic activities, etc.".
Elements/ Bases/ Variables of rural power structure
The element of power may also be considered as the bases of power or power bases. Some elements
of rural power structure are:
1) Agricultural Resource
Power is based on agricultural resources. Such as land, labor, capital, equipment etc. the owner of
the land exercise power to the labor, land is the basic unit of production and determine the power
of the man those who have more land have more power in the rural areas. Social status also
determines by the land. Those families possess more land the children got highest education and
also got marriage in the high family. In this way a land owner is strength in economically and he
maintained or control many people. An individual got control many people. An individual got
higher status due to land owing and also his children got opportunity to get higher education as
well as they also connected in town. So, we can say that owners of land holding or agricultural
resources are the important element in the rural power structure.
2) Economic Source
Economic strength is one of the important elements in the rural power structure. Economic strength
is built up by the non-agricultural sector. Such as business people who are powerful control other
within his or other family members. Those families are economically strength connected other
strength person in the society by married. They are appropriate person who can compete in the
chairman of union parishad or member etc.
3) Lineage
Big and higher lineage people are more powerful in the rural power structure. Because they have
large number of people in their lineage. Besides these in rural society higher lineage people got
honor and respect. People obey them respectfully. They influence other family or members of the
rural society.
4) Education
Education is an important element on the society. Through education people become socialized.
Their mind become wider and their national outlook increase. The educated person got respect
from people. In the rural area the people obey or respect the educated person influence in the rural
power structure. The rural people go to the educated man for advice. Many people go to the
educated man to inquire their land document. In this way educated person took the place in the
rural power structure.
5) Credit/ loan
In rural area some people have more wealth or money. Those are called MOHAJON. They are
more powerful in from them and so, they exercise power to the people. Poor people or poor
farmer’s landless farmers brought loan from them to maintain their families.
6) Kinship Support
Kinship plays an influential role in the power structure of village. Union Parishad is the important
administration of village. In rural area those people have large kinship group competent with their
oppositions. To participate in the power structure, one group try to competent to others. And those
have a big kinship group have support to hold the power.
7) Rural Elite
Vilfredo Pareto first uses the term elite. It has been come from a French language. The word elite
was first used to indicate government or ruler. But now the idea has been changed. Now elite refers
to higher class or superior person. The elite is divided into two types--- (1) Ruling elite. (2) Non
ruling elite. When elite hold the power or exercise the power then they called ruling elite. When
they don’t exercise the power, then called non ruling elite. In the rural area the elite class holds the
power. They often hold the economic, political power for their own needs. This mahjong controls
the poor people to their own needs.
8) Urban area
Those who live in the urban or connect with the urban people got respect from the rural people.
Our rural people are very simply in nature they thought that the urban dwellers are very powerful
and they have the right to get respect. So, these urban dwellers exercise power from the rural
people.
9) Connection with the Political Parties
The village people who don’t directly involve in politics but conscious also about it. Many groups
live in the village that supports different political parties. Those who involved in the political
parties thought themselves powerful. Especially those supports the ruling party seems to
themselves powerful and controls the village people. They always try to solve the rural problem.
So, it is seemed that to use the political background people exercise the power in the rural area.
10) Connection with Bureaucracy
It is another element to exercise the power of the rural area. Those who are connected any
bureaucrat thought he powerful.
11) Modernization of Agriculture
Generally rural people use the traditional method in cultivation. But now many new technologies
used in the production. Those who uses this technology in village area are rich peasant seem to
themselves power.

Changing rural power structure in Bangladesh: Society is constantly changing, and the
elements of society are also changing. The rural power structure has always been an essential
subject for the social researcher. We see the differences in the aspects of today's rural power
structure from the sixties, seventies and eighties. However, some elements are everlasting, such as
land ownership, finances, etc. But their influence is also declining gradually. Again, new elements
like information and communication technology have been added to the modern rural power
structure, which is also affecting the agrarian power structure in particular.
Power is a type of force that influences the decisions, desires, opinions, and even behaviours of
others. Power is the ability to impose one's decisions, wishes or beliefs on others. And the power
structure is the process or system of exercising power. The process or structure through which
power can be applied is called power structure.
The class structure and system of power exercised in rural society is called the rural power
structure. Eminent economist Dr Atiur Rahman, in his book titled 'Bangladesher Unnayoner
Sangram' (Struggle for Development in Bangladesh), mentioned that "the structure through which
social forces develop in rural society can be called rural power structure in the context of the
position of classes, their interrelationships, their role in social and economic activities, etc.".
The use, application and development of rural power are mainly through the rural class structure.
In this case, the elite class exercises power, and power is exercised over ordinary people. That is,
one class plays the role of regulator or ruler in the power structure, and the other is controlled or
governed. The rural power structure is built around the exercise and application of power in rural
society.
Generally, the forces or instruments that make individuals possess power in a rural socio-economic
system are called elements of rural power. In a rural agrarian economy, the land is the mainstay of
the power structure. However, in the 21st century, land, cash, education, profession, and
involvement in ruling politics are considered influential elements of the rural power structure. It is
undeniable that economic power is the main controller of the rural power structure.
The elements of rural power structure have also changed through social change. In the sixties,
individual ownership, religion, public representation, clan status, kinship and caste, the standard
of living, social status and power were significant in the rural power structure. Besides, values,
culture, society, etc., played an important role. Ojha, fakir, and pir-mashayekhs also had dominion
over the society.
In the seventies, clan status and kinship in rural power structures, ownership of modern materials
such as irrigation equipment, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, etc., played a significant role in
agricultural development. In addition, land ownership, communication with the city, involvement
in land survey, char possession, etc., are considered elements of the rural power structure.
In the eighties, clan status, the influence of clans, land ownership, involvement with local
government, relations with cooperative societies, police and administration, dealership,
employment and involvement with political parties were particularly significant elements of the
rural power structure. In addition, highly educated people and their families, people in business,
law enforcement personnel, bank officials and employees, brokers, etc., have a remarkable
influence on the rural power structure.
Involvement with the ruling political party and participation in elections are also essential elements
of the rural power structure. However, the influence and control of moneylenders, usurers, touts
and Matabbars prevalent from the earlier are still significant. NGO workers and fatwa-providing
people also influence the structure of rural power, and older people are still considered worthy of
respect.
Since the 1980s, non-agricultural income, cash, education, and involvement with various
organizations have increasingly influenced the rural power structure. The tendency of educated
people in rural areas to engage in non-agricultural occupations is increasing. School-college,
teaching in madrasas, jobs in banks, and jobs in various government departments and business
opportunities are also much more open than before.
Educated professionals are an influential group in the modern rural power structure. The social
status, influence and power of religious leaders etc., are well known. The families of the heroic
martyrs of the great liberation war and the heroic freedom fighters also have particular respect and
influence in the rural society. In recent times, those who own or know the use of information and
communication technology in rural areas have also taken place in the rural power structure. Even
if someone can give enough information, people value him. Knowledge and fluent use of the
Internet and technology are considered influential. Young people also influence the rural power
structure in many ways.
Dr Atiur Rahman has mentioned 19 elements in his book based on independent and dependent
variables of the rural power structure. These are 1. Land ownership; 2. Economic power; 3.
Leadership in society; 4. Clan status and leadership; 5. Leading large knowledge groups; 6.
Personal qualities; 7. Relations with the state; 8. Affiliation with political parties; 9. Union
Parishad representation; 10. Communication with the city; 11. Cooperative Societies / (NGO.); 12.
The leadership of rural employment; 13. The leadership of particular sections of the people; 14.
Control over modern technology; 15. Lending money; 16. Employment; 17. Education; 18. Power
to create terrorism, and 19. Mass mobilization.
These 19 elements are the primary basis of the power of rural society. However, these elements
are constantly changing and enriching and simultaneously changing rural power structures. Among
these, land ownership has almost always been considered a fundamental element; however, land,
cash, building houses, robust jobs etc., are considered more important.
In the early 2000s, the importance of land ownership as an influence on power in rural power
structures has been declining. Business, trade, cash, social capital, home ownership or permanent
residence in the city, ability to make grants, etc., were functioning at that time as elements of rural
power.
Besides ownership of various technological devices, including televisions and mobile phones, the
improvement of communication systems also played a role in making an impact at the local level.
The empowerment of a new class of people, including women, became visible at this time as a
result of the extensive activities of NGOs for almost two decades. Especially those who were
lagging in the rural power structure even a few years ago due to family heritage, land ownership
and economic well-being are now functioning as part of the power structure.
Since 2000, there has been a growing trend in the rural power structure to be led by relatively
young people. This trend of the power structure at the level of rural Bangladesh was quite active.
Especially in local level elections, the chairman and member candidates of the union council were
more focused on presenting themselves as representatives of the people.
Since 2009, the influence of central politics and governance in the rural power structure has been
increasing. Involvement with political parties, employment of a family member in the police or
administrative cadre, etc., come to the force as influencers of the power structure in rural society.
In conclusion, it can be said that much more spatial elements have influenced the rural power
structure of Bangladesh since historical times. Even after the independence of Bangladesh, in the
first four decades, issues like land ownership, heredity, education, religion, profession, kinship
etc., have been playing a controlling role in the rural power structure. Now, political power,
resources and technology play a dominant role in the rural social structure.

Rural development: Rural development usually refers to the method of enhancing the quality of
life and financial well-being of individuals, specifically living in populated and remote areas. Rural
development is a term that concentrates on the actions taken for the development of rural areas to
improve the economy. However, few areas that demand more focused attention and new initiatives
are:
• Education
• Public health and sanitation
• Women empowerment
• Infrastructure development (electricity, irrigation, etc.)
• Facilities for agriculture extension and research
• Availability of credit
• Employment opportunities

Objectives of rural development: The main objective of the rural development is improving the
living standards of rural people by utilizing the easily available natural and human resources. The
other objectives of rural development programmers are as follow:
1. Development of agriculture and allied activities.
2. Development of village and cottage industries and handicrafts.
3. Development of socio-economic infrastructure which includes setting up of rural banks,
co-operatives, schools etc.
4. Development of community services and facilities i.e., drinking water, electricity, rural
roads, health services etc.
5. Development of Human resource mobilization.

Significance of rural development: Rural development is important not only for the majority of
the population residing in rural areas but the growth of rural activities is necessary to stimulate the
speed of overall economic expansion of the nation. Rural development is pretended to be
noticeable importance in the country today than in the olden days in the process of the evolution
of the nation. It is a strategy trying to obtain improved rural creation and productivity, higher socio-
economic equality, and ambition, stability in social and economic development.
The idea directly encompasses “matters that go well behind improvements in growth, income and
output. The concern involves assessing differences in the quality of life, broadly determined to
improve health and nutrition, learning, environmentally safe living situations and reduction in
gender and earnings inequalities.
Rural development is essential not only for the majority of the population remaining in the rural
areas. At the same time, overall economic expansion of the nation. Rural development is as
essential as urban development. Mitigating the hardships of the rural people is vital to rural
development. In fact, efforts at increasing the rural areas are aimed at creating industries and
employment opportunities. Generally, what we need is to improve the rural people by providing
them with education. They need to have infrastructure like electricity and water therefore that they
are free from the cycle of droughts and floods.