1st Edition

Transformation of Resource Towns and Peripheries Political economy perspectives

Edited By Greg Halseth Copyright 2017
    390 Pages
    by Routledge

    390 Pages 52 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    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.

     

    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

    Biography

    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.