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The 'new rural sociology' arguably represented the most significant watershed in the development of rural sociology during the 1970s and 1980s. I argue, however, that the new rural sociology, especially its dominant traditions of Chayanovian and neo-Leninist Marxism, has now been almost entirely superseded as a theoretical position in agrarian political economy by the international food regimes, commodity chains/systems analysis, regulationist, and actor-network traditions. In addition, Wageningen School research on `farming styles' and the 'cultural-turn' within rural sociology and rural studies have arisen, in part, as challenges to the more structuralist styles of reasoning within agrarian political economy. Parallel trends in the sociology of development are also discussed. The paper concludes with an appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of these new late twentieth century traditions in agrarian political economy, particularly in comparison with the new rural sociology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In reviewing some of the current developments in the economic restructuring literature, the paper examines the conceptual implications of the transition form Fordism for rural sociology. The author suggests the need for a stronger integration of social relations in the assessment of economic change. Two key dimensions for consideration are production-consumption relations and the reconstitution of labour relations. These considerations bring the author to the conclusion that rural sociology should focus on the integration of international and local processes and give more attention to the social contexts in which these processes are moulded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]