Les sociétés rurales françaises : inventaire typologique et étude des changements sociaux

Numerous studies of rural geography, rural history, electoral, economic and religious geography have revealed the regional diversities of the French rural areas. This diversity makes every nation-wide sociological analysis fruitless; especially studies of social changes must, to make sense, have reference to a particular society with its own caracteristics. It is therefore essential to make out a typology of these societies. The numerous statistics that exist made it possible to set up a Sociological Map of Rural France, which can be used as a basis for a preliminary typological sketch of the areas. Furthermore, comparative 'monographs should be provided in order to reconstruct within defined limits the rural society which is already drawn up on the Map, to give a comprehensive view and to enable us to grasp its mecanisms. The problem which arises here is to define what is meant by a rural society and to elaborate instruments for the monographic analysis which meet the needs of this research. A practical answer is given to the first question: the « canton » (subdivision of a French arrondissement) will be the geographical limit of the monograph. Finaly a short presentation of the instruments for the monograph analysis is given.