Sustainability Studies MA Thesis Defence
Elizabeth Teleki - "Operationalizing Economic Development Towards More Just and Sustainable Outcomes and Measures in Small Rurally Situated Cities in the Global North"
Event Details
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Wednesday, May 4, 2016
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Building: Science Complex
Room: 107
Cost: Free
Sustainable development to date has been rationalized as a system of indicators and measures being strived for across the globe. As such, it has been positioned as a desired outcome with little direction on implementation or connection to economic vision and governance strategy. This thesis takes a methodological approach of incorporating an ethnographic case study of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada to understand the tactics and strategies used in development in small rurally situated cities in the global north. Specifically, the case study considers the contentious debate of where to (re)locate a casino operation within the region. Interviews in the case study provide insight into the implications for the lived experience of people in the region. The findings are used to frame and discuss the reproduction of economic systems that lead to particular visions of development. The four visionary focuses resulting from this study include: a generational view, a focus on fai rness in resource allocation, individualism and interconnectedness, and the pursuit of growth. Ultimately, the research broadens the discussion of sustainability studies from implementing the classic “Brundtland Report” (United Nations, 1987) definition of sustainability to more fully understand for what purpose and for whom are we sustaining? Furthermore, it contributes a theory of how influence is enacted through strategies and tactics towards basic reproducibility of lived experience of place and opportunities for incremental change towards more just and sustainable outcomes in economic development.