Invisible dubrovnik. A study of prospects for development in a local, rural community

Abstract

In this paper, the authors discuss possibilities for development in rural areas belonging to the City of Dubrovnik. The purpose of the paper is to determine the challenges farmers face in both their work and their everyday lives and the prospects for development in their local community. A field study was conducted in May 2016 through surveys and semi-structured interviews of 53 farmers in villages and other settlements in rural areas belonging to Dubrovnik. The authors determined three complementary development objectives: Diversification of rural activities, which is also connected to applications for EU funds; establishing cooperatives and developing cooperative-based means of collaboration; and transitioning to organic farming. In the analysis, the authors undertake a critical consideration of development obstacles to all three developmental aspects and suggest a means for potential for development to be used to benefit the local community. In accordance with neo-endogenous rural development, the authors conclude by presenting proposals for rural development that would go a long way towards a socio-economic integration of the City of Dubrovnik. The authors also emphasize obstacles within the local context that are standing in the way of this path towards development.