Ebook: Sustainability, Local Democracy and the Future: The Swedish Model

This book deals with the challenges posed by the transformation of society towards much-needed sustainability. Especially, it deals with the local features of this change, but seen in a global context. The two cases examined - the municipalities of Linkoping and Atvidaberg - are Swedish, but the problems of how to relate locally to a globalized world are common today. The cases have been deliberately chosen to expose alternative types of choices for the local communities involved. Large Linkoping is, historically, a nodal city of importance in the national grid of regional centres, one that relates to the nation state and represents officialdom. Small Atvidaberg developed in the context of its forest region setting and metallurgy, and today operates directly to wider markets, while still emphasising its very local identity. The fact that these municipalities border each other provides a similar regional context, and differences between them may then not be entirely confused by a debate on drastically different geographical settings.

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This book deals with the challenges posed by the transformation of society towards much-needed sustainability. Especially, it deals with the local features of this change, but seen in a global context. The two cases examined - the municipalities of Linkoping and Atvidaberg - are Swedish, but the problems of how to relate locally to a globalized world are common today. The cases have been deliberately chosen to expose alternative types of choices for the local communities involved. Large Linkoping is, historically, a nodal city of importance in the national grid of regional centres, one that relates to the nation state and represents officialdom. Small Atvidaberg developed in the context of its forest region setting and metallurgy, and today operates directly to wider markets, while still emphasising its very local identity. The fact that these municipalities border each other provides a similar regional context, and differences between them may then not be entirely confused by a debate on drastically different geographical settings.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Sustainability Issues at a Local Level Interplaying with the Global World — Political and Identity Topics....Pages 1-16
Critical Notes on Sustainability and Democracy....Pages 17-48
Sustainability as a Centrally-induced Swedish Local Discourse....Pages 49-82
An Introduction to Ostergotland, the Case Region....Pages 83-105
Four Pillars Forming the Identity of Linkoping....Pages 107-127
Linkoping and Local Agenda 21: Sustainability, Technocracy or Democracy?....Pages 129-164
Atvidaberg and Identity Shifts: Breaking Up is Hard....Pages 165-205
Local Democracy Facing Global Challenge: Analysis and Conclusions....Pages 207-223
Back Matter....Pages 225-231

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This book deals with the challenges posed by the transformation of society towards much-needed sustainability. Especially, it deals with the local features of this change, but seen in a global context. The two cases examined - the municipalities of Linkoping and Atvidaberg - are Swedish, but the problems of how to relate locally to a globalized world are common today. The cases have been deliberately chosen to expose alternative types of choices for the local communities involved. Large Linkoping is, historically, a nodal city of importance in the national grid of regional centres, one that relates to the nation state and represents officialdom. Small Atvidaberg developed in the context of its forest region setting and metallurgy, and today operates directly to wider markets, while still emphasising its very local identity. The fact that these municipalities border each other provides a similar regional context, and differences between them may then not be entirely confused by a debate on drastically different geographical settings.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Sustainability Issues at a Local Level Interplaying with the Global World — Political and Identity Topics....Pages 1-16
Critical Notes on Sustainability and Democracy....Pages 17-48
Sustainability as a Centrally-induced Swedish Local Discourse....Pages 49-82
An Introduction to Ostergotland, the Case Region....Pages 83-105
Four Pillars Forming the Identity of Linkoping....Pages 107-127
Linkoping and Local Agenda 21: Sustainability, Technocracy or Democracy?....Pages 129-164
Atvidaberg and Identity Shifts: Breaking Up is Hard....Pages 165-205
Local Democracy Facing Global Challenge: Analysis and Conclusions....Pages 207-223
Back Matter....Pages 225-231
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