Transformation of Resource Towns and Peripheries - Political Economy Perspectives

Most developed economies, including single-industry and resource dependent rural or small town regions, are transforming rapidly as a result of social, political, and economic change. Collectively, they face a number of challenges as well as new opportunities. This international collaboration describes a critical political economy framework that will be useful for understanding these transitions.

Transformation of Resource Towns and Peripheries describes the multi-faceted process of transition and change in resource dependent rural and small town regions since the end of the Second World War. The book incorporates international case studies from Australia, Canada, Finland and New Zealand, with the express purpose of highlighting similarities and differences in patterns and practices in each country. Chapters explore three main themes: how corporate ties and trade linkages are changing and impacting rural communities and regions; how resource industry employment is changing in these small communities; and how local community capacity and leadership are working to mitigate challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.

This book will be of interest to students of regional studies, geography, and rural and industrial sociology. It will also have a strong appeal to policy-makers and local regional development practitioners.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

1 Introduction – Political Economy Perspectives on the Transformation of Resource Towns and Peripheries

Greg Halseth

Section 1: Global-local Perspectives on Restructuring

Introduction: Geography and History Matter

Roger Hayter

2 Australia – Trap or opportunity? Natural resource dependence, scale, and the evolution of new economies in the space/time of New South Wales’ Northern Tablelands

Neil Argent

3 British Columbia – Localization AND globalization: Industrial re-organization in Mackenzie, British Columbia

Greg Halseth, Laura Ryser, and Sean Markey

4 Finland – Global – local links and industrial restructuring in a resource town in Finland: The case of Lieksa

Markku Tykkyläinen, Eero Vatanen, Maija Halonen, and Juha Kotilainen

5 New Zealand – Restructuring of the New Zealand economy: Global-local links and evidence from the West Coast and Southland regions

Sean Connelly and Etienne Nel

Section 2: Labour and Employment Perspectives on Restructuring

Introduction: Jobs and Labour Power Under Threat

Roger Hayter

6 Australia – Labour/capital relations and sustainable development in the NSW Northern Tablelands

Neil Argent

7 British Columbia – Contentious flexibility: Job losses in labour restructuring in Mackenzie, BC

Greg Halseth, Laura Ryser, and Sean Markey

8 Finland – Industrial labour in a resource town in Finland: The case of Lieksa

Maija Halonen, Eero Vatanen, Markku Tykkyläinen, and Juha Kotilainen

9 New Zealand – Employment and labour in New Zeal

About the author

Greg Halseth is a Professor in the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he is also the Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies and Co-Director of UNBC’s Community Development Institute, Canada.

Summary

Most developed economies, including single-industry and resource dependent rural or small town regions, are transforming rapidly as a result of social, political, and economic change. Collectively, they face a number of challenges as well as new opportunities. This international collaboration describes a critical political economy framework that

Product details

• Authors: Greg Halseth
• Assisted by: Greg Halseth (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 12.12.2019
• EAN: 9780367875190
• ISBN: 978-0-367-87519-0
• No. of pages: 366
• Subject: Social sciences, law, business > Business > General, dictionaries