Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.62.1.10
“It's Nice to Come Here for a Few Days, but Living is Hard…“ – Developmental Potentials and Hindrances of Rural Settlements of Gorski Kotar and North Dalmatian Islands from the Perspective of Residents
Krešimir Žažar
orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-8625
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Zagreb, Croatia
Vladimir Ivanović
orcid.org/0000-0001-8789-3486
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Zagreb, Croatia
Tijana Trako Poljak
orcid.org/0000-0002-0846-2889
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Highland and island areas are dominantly rural parts of Croatia, with specific developmental
challenges. Even the Croatian legal framework recognizes their special status. The paper explores
experiences of residents in rural settlements that, although located in two neighbouring
counties of the same Adriatic Region (NUTS2), Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Zadar County,
and having a similar developmental index, geographically belong to different areas, the highland
(Gorski Kotar) and the island area (Dugi Otok, Molat and Zverinac), each with its specific
developmental experiences and challenges.
Theoretically, the paper builds on a secondary data analysis, illustrating the dominantly negative
developmental trends in these areas. The main part of the paper presents results of the
empirical research carried out by employing the qualitative methodology of in-depth semistructured
interviews (N=19) with residents of these areas in the period between January and
June 2022. The convenient sample included 9 female and 10 male interlocutors of different sociodemographic
characteristics, with a similar number of interviews conducted in both areas.
The interviews provided an insight into the residents' perspective on developmental potentials
and hindrances of their rural settlements. Despite various determinants, it was established that
interlocutors from both areas face equal developmental challenges: lack of economic activities
and impossibility of finding employment are pointed out as some of the main reasons for
massive migration. Furthermore, the problem of underexploitation of tourist and agricultural
potentials is pointed to. In conclusion, although the rural spaces in observed Croatian mountainous
areas and on North Dalmatian islands have great developmental potentials, their realization
needs to be preceeded by a systematic drawing up and implementation of wrapped-up developmental plans for rural spaces at the macro, mezo and micro level, ensuring preconditions
for a vibrant economic activity and demographic revitalization.
Keywords
rural areas; Gorski Kotar; North Dalmatian islands; developmental potentials; depopulation; economic inefficacy
Hrčak ID:
318656
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2024.
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