Community, Culture, and Economic Development


Book Description

A comparative study of economic development policy, and its relationship with local power structures and cultural and social relations, in two Maryland towns that have rejected development.




Community, Culture, and Economic Development, Second Edition


Book Description

Community economic development is conventionally explained using one of two models: a market model that assumes individuals always attempt to maximize their wealth, or a growth model that assumes land use is controlled by real estate developers who invariably pursue outside investment as a way of increasing land values and creating jobs and opportunities. In the first edition of Community, Culture, and Economic Development, Meredith Ramsay's close study of two small towns on Maryland's Lower Shore demonstrated that neither model can explain why these communities, alike in so many ways, responded so differently to economic decline or why archaic hierarchies of race, class, and gender remain deeply embedded and poverty seems nearly intractable. Ramsay showed how the lack of economic progress in Somerset, Maryland's poorest county, can best be explained by factoring history, culture, and social relations into the investigator's research. In this second edition she discusses changes that have taken place in the county since the early 1990s, including the dramatic legal victory of the "Somerset Six" and the Maryland ACLU, which ultimately paved the way for the election of an African American to a top county position for the first time in history.




How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate


Book Description

Though the scientific community largely agrees that climate change is underway, debates about this issue remain fiercely polarized. These conversations have become a rhetorical contest, one where opposing sides try to achieve victory through playing on fear, distrust, and intolerance. At its heart, this split no longer concerns carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, or climate modeling; rather, it is the product of contrasting, deeply entrenched worldviews. This brief examines what causes people to reject or accept the scientific consensus on climate change. Synthesizing evidence from sociology, psychology, and political science, Andrew J. Hoffman lays bare the opposing cultural lenses through which science is interpreted. He then extracts lessons from major cultural shifts in the past to engender a better understanding of the problem and motivate the public to take action. How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate makes a powerful case for a more scientifically literate public, a more socially engaged scientific community, and a more thoughtful mode of public discourse.







Competing on Culture


Book Description

This book provides fresh analysis of organizational culture in the community college context with a critical examination of the relationship between organizational culture and change.




Culture and Change


Book Description

Growing dependency, increased contact and interactions, and the development of a participatory world culture have brought the topic of culture change to our attention as never before. Naylor examines the various issues and aspects of change, particularly directed or intended change, as it occurs within multicultural settings. He combines the best information available on the topic of change and provides a comprehensive model for change processes in an effort to supply the reader with the essentials required for understanding culture change and working within its contexts. It is appropriate for courses in anthropology, sociology, education, development studies and health, and will serve equally well for either undergraduate or graduate levels.




Culture, Change and Community in Higher Education


Book Description

Addressing the contemporary issues relating to the delivery of education, Culture, Change and Community in Higher Education explores the challenges of creating effective learning communities. Focusing on the creation and implementation of strategies which permeate and influence culture and enable staff to innovate, this book: considers the balance between a focus on people, places, pedagogy and technology encourages the reader to explore the steps that can be taken to inspire creativity, collaboration and connectivity through the provision of learning environments which are both accessible and engaging employs case studies and examples to consider ways to support the creation of an effective and inclusive learning community offers both strategic and operational perspectives into creating learning spaces and evoking effective change Culture, Change and Community in Higher Education offers insight into a topic that is becoming ever more important with the implementation of the Teaching Excellence Framework. It is a must-read for Higher Education managers looking to implement effective and inclusive learning environments within their university.




Communication, Culture and Social Change


Book Description

Drawing on the culture-centered approach (CCA), this book re-imagines culture as a site for resisting the neocolonial framework of neoliberal governmentality. Culture emerged in the 20th Century as a conceptual tool for resisting the hegemony of West-centric interventions in development, disrupting the assumptions that form the basis of development. This turn to culture offered radical possibilities for decolonizing social change but in response, necolonial development institutions incorporated culture into their strategic framework while simultaneously deploying political and economic power to silence transformative threads. This rise of “culture as development” corresponded with the global rise of neo-liberal governmentality, incorporating culture as a tool for globally reproducing the logic of capital. Using examples of transformative social change interventions, this book emphasizes the role of culture as a site for resisting capitalism and imagining rights-based, sustainable and socialist futures. In particular, it attends to culture as the basis for socialist organizing in activist and party politics. In doing so, Culture, Participation and Social Change offers a framework of inter-linkage between Marxist analyses of capital and cultural analyses of colonialism. It concludes with an anti-colonial framework that re-imagines the academe as a site of activist interventions.




Culture, Identity & Change


Book Description

"Culture, Identity & Change: The Evolution of Indian Society" by Sandeep Chavan, is an insightful journey through the rich history, dynamic present, and promising future of India, aimed at inspiring young Indians and global Indians alike. The book explores the profound transformations in Indian society, shaped by a unique interplay of tradition and modernity, regional diversity, and global influences. Its purpose is to deepen readers' understanding of India’s social fabric, which blends ancient customs with contemporary challenges and innovations, positioning youth as the driving force for meaningful change. The book begins by tracing India’s origins, from the early civilizations that shaped social norms to the impacts of colonial rule, which redefined the country's cultural and economic landscape. By examining the social structures, family roles, and caste dynamics that continue to influence Indian society, readers gain a comprehensive view of the factors that have historically shaped identity and relationships in India. With a focus on current and emerging issues, the book addresses challenges like urbanization, poverty, and economic inequality, which create disparities but also provide opportunities for progress. It highlights the pivotal role of education, not just as a foundation for individual growth, but as a powerful tool for collective social transformation. The book underscores that education, coupled with critical skills, is key to empowering young Indians to bridge gaps and foster a more equitable society. Central to this narrative is the role of youth in driving social movements, from grassroots activism to digital engagement. It delves into the rise of technology as a medium for civic participation, enabling young Indians to champion causes, express their identity, and interact with a global audience, thus building a sense of both national and global citizenship. Looking forward, the book discusses future trends and pathways, including sustainable development, digital transformation, and social inclusivity. It emphasizes the potential of innovation to address pressing issues and to harness India's demographic dividend. "Culture, Identity & Change: The Evolution of Indian Society" invites young Indians to reflect on their heritage, envision their role in society, and engage actively in shaping an inclusive and progressive India. The book serves as both a tribute to India’s resilience and a roadmap for the future, encouraging readers to contribute to a balanced and inclusive evolution of Indian identity in a globalized world.




Culture and Social Change


Book Description

This book brings together social sciencists to create an interdisciplinary dialogue on the topic of social change as a cultural process. Culture is as much about novelty as it is about tradition, as much about change as it is about stability. This dynamic tension is analyzed in collective protests, intergroup dynamics, language, mass media, science, community participation, art, and social transitions to capitalism, among others contexts. These diverse cases illustrate a number of key factors that can propel, slow-down and retract social change. An emancipatory and integrative social science is developed in this book, which offers a new explanatory model of human behavior and thought under conditions of institutional and societal change.