The Dual Forces of Change: Impacts of Rural-Urban Migration and the Dynamic Transformation of Peri-Urban Communities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64229/y76hts98Keywords:
Rural-Urban Migration, Peri-Urban Transformation, Urban Sprawl, Land Use Change, Community Resilience, TranslocalismAbstract
The relentless tide of rural-urban migration is a defining feature of contemporary globalization, fundamentally reshaping the demographic, economic, and social landscapes of both sending and receiving communities. While the effects on core urban centers have been extensively studied, the intricate dynamics of the peri-urban interface-the transitional zone between city and countryside-remain a critical and complex frontier. This article synthesizes existing literature to construct a holistic analysis of the dual impact of this migration. First, it examines the consequences for rural sending areas, including demographic hollowing, economic stagnation, and the reconfiguration of social structures, while also acknowledging the potential benefits of remittance inflows and the phenomenon of return migration. Second, it delves into the profound pressures on urban destinations, focusing on housing informality, service provision challenges, and labor market transformations. The core of the argument centers on the peri-urban zone as the primary locus of dynamic transformation. Here, we analyze the convergent forces of migrant settlement, state-led urban expansion, and speculative land markets that drive rapid, often chaotic, land-use change, social fragmentation, and institutional hybridity. Through conceptual charts mapping these flows and pressures, the article illustrates the multi-scalar and interconnected nature of these processes. The conclusion calls for integrated, trans-local governance frameworks that can manage growth, mitigate negative externalities, and harness the potential of these transformative forces for sustainable and equitable community development in both rural and urban settings. This paper contributes to the field by explicitly linking the micro-level experiences of migrants and communities with the macro-level processes of spatial and economic restructuring.
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