Social Diversity, Globalization, and Sustainability in Community-Based Economies
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Date
2013
Authors
Perkins, Patricia E. (Ellie)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Inanna Publications and Education
Abstract
Description
Bioregional and “ecological economics” theory describes the growth of local economic linkages as vital to move post-industrial economies in the direction of sustainability. 1 This involves expanding local stewardship over environmental and economic resources, so that progressively more production for local needs can be done within the community.
Far from existing solely in the realm of theory, this is a pattern which is becoming more familiar in many parts of North America and Europe (see, for e.g., Rajan; Forsey; Dobson; Nozick; Mazmanian and Kraft; Hannum; Shuman;
Beatley). 2 The blossoming initiatives to create local, community economies can be understood in light of the long history of environmental challenges faced by people living in the industrialized North, and the double economic blows of recession and trade liberalization/globalization exemplified by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Many communities in North America and Europe have been organizing around environmental concerns for decades. Recession or trade-related layoffs in the early 1990s gave many people both time and incentives to exercise long-dormant skills for generating incomes and exchanging goods and services.
Environmental awareness, community organizing, and “alternative” employment creation (e.g. in environmental remediation and energy conservation activities) form a natural and dynamic synergy which draws upon feminist theoretical insights and relies upon women’s skills. Stronger community-based economies not only help people to survive the vicissitudes of world market fluctuations, they hold the seed of more fundamental economic transformation.
Keywords
ecological economics, ecological economics theory, sustainability, bioregional, globaization, women
Citation
“Social diversity, globalization, and sustainability in community-based economies.” In Women in a Globalizing World: Transforming Equality, Development, Diversity and Peace, edited by Angela Miles (Toronto: Inanna Publications and Education), pp. 515-524.