Transformation of Resource Towns and Peripheries

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.

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.

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 Zealand: Recent trends and reflections on developments in the West Coast and Southland regions Sean Connelly and Etienne Nel Section 3: Community Implications Introduction: "Whatever you can do at Ocean Falls you can do better somewhere else" Roger Hayter 10 Australia - Community Development in an Age of Mounting Uncertainty: Armidale, Australia Tony Sorensen 11 British Columbia - Building for the future: Community responses to economic restructuring in Mackenzie, BC Greg Halseth, Laura Ryser, and Sean Markey 12 Finland - Resource town transitions in Finland: Local impacts and policy responses in Lieksa Juha Kotilainen, Maija Halonen, Eero Vatanen, and Markku Tykkyläinen 13 New Zealand - Community Responses to Restructuring Sean Connelly and Etienne Nel 14 Rural Restructuring - Conclusion Sean Markey and Greg Halseth