Abstract
This chapter aims to explore which lessons can be learnt from minoritized communities living in rural areas as applicable to linguistic, religious and cultural minorities likewise. Minoritized rural communities have strong bonds with their own territory and these bonds are characterized by diversity and resilience. Rural areas are often, though not always, characterized by depopulation, lack of essential services, topographic and climatic restrictions, and accordingly, when these features are present, they are considered ‘less-favoured areas’ (LFA) characterized by ‘marginality’. The approach applied in this contribution is based on cross-fertilization in terms of both the construction of synergies and sharing of common solutions among linguistic, religious and cultural minorities, on the one hand, and minoritized rural communities, on the other. This approach is particularly promising as it provides new insights on common issues such as minoritizing processes related to vulnerability and marginalization, multiple and intersectoral grouping and individual’s be Andreoli longing, asymmetry in access to power, empowerment and participation. By encompassing different marginalized groups, this contribution aims to promote solution-oriented and need-based decisions, conflicts as opportunities for change, while at the same time, emphasizing concerted processes to support structural changes.