Page 10 - Pelc, Stanko, ed., 2015. Spatial, social and economic factors of marginalization in the changing global context. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 10
tial, social, and economic factors of marginalization in the changing global context 8 cess of (economic and social) globalization is having profound ef-
fects, both positive and negative, on nations, regions, localities,
people and communities, but the benefits are unequally distribut-
ed. In particular in the developing world but also in peripheral are-
as of the developed world, people and places are increasingly being
detached from the economic mainstream, or pre-existing margin-
ality is being enhanced.
As shown by our past research marginalization and particularly glo-
balization are not necessarily negative; on the contrary, these pro-
cesses can also provoke creative and innovative responses in the
economy, social life, politics and culture. In addition we believe that
the process of marginalization is not a one-way road but can be re-
versed; regions and people may in fact become ‘de-marginalised’ if
they are able to compete successfully in a new global system. We
search for more examples of this kind to observe the process and
analyze the key factors responsible for the demarginalization.
The flourishing of local cultures, political separatism and the in-
creasing significance of local economic development all bear testi-
mony to the dual reality of the dynamics in which our world finds
itself on all scales, from the global to the local. The constant chang-
es are best expressed by the notion of ‘crisis’, which means turn-
ing points (for better or worse) in ongoing processes. The original
Greek meaning of the term is ‘decision’ – we are called to de-
cide where to go. Within this context, grass-roots and civil society
movements are playing an increasingly prominent role within soci-
eties, particularly those which have been marginalized. It is the goal
of C12.29 to develop a clearer understanding of the role of margin-
alization in a world that finds itself confronted with multiple ‘crises’
at all levels.
The difficulties experienced by the global political system with tack-
ling climate change, the bank and debt crisis that have hit the in-
dustrialized countries particularly hard, the nuclear catastrophe in
Japan (Fukushima) following the 2011 earthquake and the related
tsunami, this year’s earthquake in Nepal as well as many other less-
er disasters demonstrate that the present economic and political
system seems to be incapable of solving the many problems we
are confronted with. Similarly, national and local differences still are
a critical issue in the dynamic world of which we are a part – the
‘global village’ is more a myth than a reality. The unrest and revo-
fects, both positive and negative, on nations, regions, localities,
people and communities, but the benefits are unequally distribut-
ed. In particular in the developing world but also in peripheral are-
as of the developed world, people and places are increasingly being
detached from the economic mainstream, or pre-existing margin-
ality is being enhanced.
As shown by our past research marginalization and particularly glo-
balization are not necessarily negative; on the contrary, these pro-
cesses can also provoke creative and innovative responses in the
economy, social life, politics and culture. In addition we believe that
the process of marginalization is not a one-way road but can be re-
versed; regions and people may in fact become ‘de-marginalised’ if
they are able to compete successfully in a new global system. We
search for more examples of this kind to observe the process and
analyze the key factors responsible for the demarginalization.
The flourishing of local cultures, political separatism and the in-
creasing significance of local economic development all bear testi-
mony to the dual reality of the dynamics in which our world finds
itself on all scales, from the global to the local. The constant chang-
es are best expressed by the notion of ‘crisis’, which means turn-
ing points (for better or worse) in ongoing processes. The original
Greek meaning of the term is ‘decision’ – we are called to de-
cide where to go. Within this context, grass-roots and civil society
movements are playing an increasingly prominent role within soci-
eties, particularly those which have been marginalized. It is the goal
of C12.29 to develop a clearer understanding of the role of margin-
alization in a world that finds itself confronted with multiple ‘crises’
at all levels.
The difficulties experienced by the global political system with tack-
ling climate change, the bank and debt crisis that have hit the in-
dustrialized countries particularly hard, the nuclear catastrophe in
Japan (Fukushima) following the 2011 earthquake and the related
tsunami, this year’s earthquake in Nepal as well as many other less-
er disasters demonstrate that the present economic and political
system seems to be incapable of solving the many problems we
are confronted with. Similarly, national and local differences still are
a critical issue in the dynamic world of which we are a part – the
‘global village’ is more a myth than a reality. The unrest and revo-
