Abstract

This study investigates how rural communities In Oklahoma conceive of their socioeconomic position in larger systems, as well as their resiliency and ability to withstand challenges. Utilizing systems thinking and polycentricity literature, we analyze interviews to construct an understanding of how rural communities perceive themselves, and how this impacts interactions with other communities and governments. Rural communities and their associated challenges are complex and impacted by a range of factors. We find that rural residents also feel this complexity, and understand their issues as products of overlapping systems and structures, and both internal and external factors. Additionally, we observe little mention of issues defined by liberal-conservative lines, but instead as defined by the rural-urban divide, indicating these issues are defined not by political identity necessarily, but a place-based identity.

Keywords: rural, resilience, identity, system thinking, polycentricity, political identity

How to Cite:

Gabehart, K. M., Fullerton, A. H. & Olofsson, K., (2024) “Rurality, Resilience, & Identity: A Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Understanding Self-Reported Issues in Rural America”, Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy 19(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/1936-0487.1122