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Arctic Yearbook 2014
norm seems to be supportive of a lifestyle of common commitments to deal with long-term
sustainability challenges.
The methodological contribution of this study was to apply qualitative participatory systems
dynamics to the theory of conditional cooperation for sustainable use of common pool resources.
The microsituational and broader contextual variables that were accounted for by the interviewees
proved relevant to make the assessment that cooperation is in this case conditional: tourism can
function as the empowerment needed to activate drivers for sustainable development of
Gunnarsbyn on a local level.
The approach of micro social constructionism became relevant to the core questions of
sustainability science as it puts personal accounts of work in relation to sustainable development of
communities. Further investigations of approaches that identify context-specific conditions that
enhance shared long-term benefits are needed. Suggestions for further research thus include studies
of other peripheral areas in Northern Europe and a comparison of their strengths and weaknesses in
developing cooperation for sustainable use of common natural resources. Further research should
also include other stakeholder views and elaboration of how the policies that are mentioned in this
study have influenced livelihoods in European Arctic regions.
References
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Research. 29(4): 1065-1085.
Burr, V. (2003). Social Constructionism 2nd edition. Routledge.
Bryant, A. & Charmaz, K. (2010) (eds.). The SAGE Handbook of Grounded Theory. SAGE Publications
Ltd.
Callaghan, E. G. & Colton, J. (2008). Building sustainable & resilient communities: a balancing of
community capital. Environment, development and sustainability 10(6): 931-942.
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Folke, C. (2006). Resilience: The emergence of a perspective for social-ecological systems analyzes.
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