Environmental injustice is often an intersection of economic, social, and environmental disparities. Addressing the inequities borne by communities overburdened with such disparities requires local learning opportunities. Exploring how and what participants learn during community education projects can help inform and improve practice, which was…

The concept of Big Society provides inspiration--working "bottom up" to promote "collective action, reciprocity and a new, more engaged relationship between local people and public services". With so much written about the theory of the Big Society, this seems like an ideal time to put a little more practical detail into the mix. The authors argue…

This paper examines voluntarism as a response to the challenges faced by people growing old in rural communities that are themselves being transformed in fundamental ways, both socially and demographically. Informed by evolving theorisations within the rural aging and geographies of voluntarism literatures, we outline the key processes in space…

Outlines the possible contributions of a socialist country, using Hungary as an example, to give a fresh perspective on international relations. Examines relations between the state (central government) and the local community. Concludes that the paradigm of international relations can be realized only on more democratic and decentralized…

Part of a series on economic recovery strategies and techniques for assessing, managing, and mitigating the impacts of economic decline resulting from plant closures, substantial layoffs, or plant relocation, this paper presents a model local leaders can use to analyze, plan, and organize activities. As a means of illustrating the kinds of impacts…

Community activities of Black, former student activists, and nonactivists who attended college during the 1960s were investigated in a longitudinal study conducted in 1969 and 1978. Community involvement among both groups was similar. Although the sample size is small, this is the only study where the data was obtained while subjects were still…

The technology of cable television (CATV) is one area in which local community officials need to develop knowledge so that their decisions about the structure of CATV within the community will be informed. Thus, this paper is designed to familiarize local decision makers with the technological aspects of cable communications, to isolate specific…

Argues that social transformation at the macro-level (national and global) is the result of micro-processes, or social movements organized around local issues. Describes the global mobilization processes that have a local focus but nevertheless transcend the nation-state and modify the workings of the world-system. (BSR)

Discusses the problems and impact of national trends on small towns and how small towns in eastern Washington have adapted to social and economic change. Illustrates how small towns try to address contemporary concerns such as computerization, the environment, and the expanding needs of their communities while continuing to hold on to their…

Data from 83 Minnesota newspapers support the hypothesis that as communities become more pluralistic, their newspapers will report more conflict. Between 1965 and 1979, Minnesota saw an increase in population and proportionate increases in income from manufacturing and agriculture. During this period of growing pluralism, the amount of newspaper…

A model was developed to explore the relationship between the personal characteristics of rural community residents, their social involvement, and their social awareness. Specific personal characteristic variables were educational level, gender, gross family income, and marital status. Social involvement variables were personal impact of farm…

For many small-town citizens the post office remains an essential institution, not only as a collector and distributor of the mails but also as a focal point of sociability and intimacy, as a news center, and as a provider of special neighborhood services and counseling. In order to provide data for the Postal Rate Commission (charged with…

The recurrence of stories throughout California communities using narrative art to strengthen themselves led to an inquiry that is described in this report. The research question was: how can different ways of discovering and presenting local stories in public contribute to the strengthening of community? The inquiry had six components: (1) a…

Although knowledge of how the population of an area is structured and how it is constantly changing will not solve problems created by the changes, it will provide a basis for understanding the needs of an area and for better program planning. Population processes that produce growth or decline in areas include natural increase, migration, and…

Only by having an appreciation of how cable systems can be used, the attendant costs and limitations, can local authorities rationally evaluate its impact on the community. This report is intended to provide an introduction to the range of uses and communications services now possible with cable systems. The first part of the report includes a…