ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses opportunities and challenges associated with globalising rural places. It provides rich conceptual and empirical material from across the world. Michiel van Meeteren provides a positive example of seven small and medium sized Dutch transnational corporations which oppose the corporate logic of localisation decisions in favour of the prominent world cities or large agglomerations. Transnational corporations benefit at the expense of the enterprises supplying them as shown in the two empirically analysed value chains in Australia involved in wine and potato growing. The horizontal and vertical concentration process within the German value chain increases the power asymmetries, thus reducing the bargaining power of the dairy farmers. In addition to the suggested strategies by Taylor and Tons, the authors propose measures with which to increase the information levels of dairy farmers on their specific roles within value chains, so as to improve their marketing skills through training activities.