ABSTRACT

This title was first published in 2002. One of the greatest concerns facing the world is how to ensure that sustainable outcomes are generated as globalization proceeds apace. Quite simply, many people are finding their life chances deteriorating - with resistance to globalization being a common response. The question is: is it possible to guarantee sustainable livelihoods for individuals, families and communities as global processes increasingly shape local social relations? This volume is a collection of 16 chapters from leading rural sociologists and human geographers based in Europe, Australasia, and the Americas. The book, in three parts, deals with globalization and food; the restructuring of local agriculture; and communities and resistance in a globalizing world. The introduction to the book compares and contrasts the various experiences of communities in countries such as Australia, Brazil, Finland, Norway, South Africa and the United States as they "struggle" to cope with globalization and its effects. Each chapter discusses options to ameliorate the local consequences of global change.