How will rural towns be treated in socialist revolutions?

[Questionable]

I live in a rural Kentucky town that is very low on industry. There's about 2-3 factories where most people work, but the main industry in the region is agricultural with people owning their own farms. There's also a lot of shops for passer-bys, so you could say there's a rather large concentration of the petite-bourgeoisie. We're pretty far away from any city and I honestly think that if some kind of devastating war happened in America, we would never hear about it without TV/radio/internet.

What's going to happen to the countryside if a socialist revolution occurs? Will there be a drive for collectivization similar to the Soviet Union, or would the level of technology make things a bit different?

[The Jay]

I assume that the question could be re-phrased as, "How would the town's interaction with the areas surrounding it change or stay the same?"

I'll go with that.

The town, now running on a democratic economy, would open relations with a neighboring town and decide if coordinating their economies would be in the best interest of both. If so then they would essentially have to join governments at some level and this would extend as a network through out a large number of towns before this kind of thing would become less practical. This range of practicality generally enlarges with technology.

If a centrally planned economy were to be erected then there likely would be collectivization.

[Prometeo liberado]

I would argue that collectivization would occur but not in the way you may think. As the populace of the town are the most experienced as far as the inner workings of the actual day to day functions of the local agra-business is concerned the collectivization would be implemented via the local workers council in coordination with the larger mandates/needs of the working class. We are all in this together so to speak. Other than that your daily lives would become something more than just getting and spending. You would be transformed by your participation in reclaiming your lives back from your oppressors.

[blake 3:17]

Policy and basic awareness of the issues facing rural communities and farmers is a real weakness on the Left across the board. If we were going through socialist transformation, I would wish were for sensible and respectful policies affecting rural people.

I am interested, but just learning, in the politics of food production. The current system is pretty horrible ecologically and socially.

One of the saner recommendations I heard during the anti-globalization days of the late 90s was for workers in the global North to call for land reform in Latin America, Africa and Asia. It would reduce competition between workers on an international scale as well as aiding farmers.

I would hope that there wouldn't be a duplication of the Soviet or Chinese processes. I don't see any sense in considering farmers and rural petit bourgeoisie as class enemies.

Do you see issues that unite your community with an urban socialist movement?

[Geiseric]

Planning! That's the key. Your town's economy would be directed towards helping the people inside of it, not making commodities which are going to be sold for a capitalists profit.

[Lynx]

Rural economies are generally dominated by the primary sector, tourism and recreation. I would like to see more telecommuting done from rural areas. This would bring IT jobs and more opportunity to participate in the larger economy.