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Regional responses to globalisation : managing the reorganisation of boundary processes

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posted on 2023-05-27, 15:55 authored by Orpin, Peter
Globalisation has been the subject of central attention in the last decade, yet the ways in which the processes of globalisation and the global market are worked out at the local level remain poorly theorised. Regional and rural areas in Australia appear to be experiencing problems maintaining their economic viability and vitality in the face of global market changes. The thesis explores the global-local interface by analysing variations in rural and regional responses to globalisation in two rural areas showing seemingly different levels of adaptation to the global market. The study reveals that globalisation involves a process of progressive disorganisation and more complex reorganisation of networks and network boundaries, at all levels from the global to the local. This results in a global market that is increasing in size, scope and competitiveness providing a challenging environment for producers. Responses to these challenges in the study areas vary between a protective strengthening of local boundary processes, on one hand, and open and strategic engagement, on the other. Producers' capacity to maintain their position in the market is shown to be dependent, among other factors, on building more open, wide- reaching and eclectic network orderings which facilitate wide knowledge gathering and the incorporation of that knowledge into reflexive, flexible and innovative action. The thesis shows that in some rural and regional areas, the network organising power of space, over prolonged periods of relative social and spatial isolation, produce network structures that are marked by rich multiplex linkages and powerful coherent boundary processes, as networks become increasingly coextensive in social and physical space and boundary processes become conterminous. These structures restrict the ability of individual and collective actors to build the sorts of open network ordering that are needed to engage fully in the global market. The major impetus for opening up these tight local network structures in these areas is seen as coming from either external shock or from the presence in local networks of individuals whose different socialisation means that their network orderings extend beyond the local. Such individuals provide the weak ties that span boundary processes, link actors into new networks containing alternate knowledge, meaning and values and counteract some of the historical network organising power of space. This suggests that, despite technology, face-to-face interaction and the physical mobility of individuals between networks remain important factors in maintaining openness in local networks.

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Copyright 2001 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s). Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tasmania, 2001. Includes bibliographical references

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