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Localism and the Environment
Author(s) -
Hess David J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
sociology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1751-9020
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00082.x
Subject(s) - localism , globalization , government (linguistics) , agriculture , economics , political economy , business , market economy , political science , law , politics , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , biology
Abstract Localism, understood here as a movement to regain sovereignty over the local economy in an era of globalization, offers an alternative economic development strategy to that of the high‐tech, export‐oriented manufacturing cluster. Instead, localism advocates call attention to the benefits of import‐replacing strategies that strengthen locally owned businesses, farms, and nonprofit organizations, as well as local government agencies. Primary examples of localism include the ‘buy local movement’ supported by independent retailers and banks, community‐controlled energy, and local food and agricultural networks. Localism may generate environmental benefits due to decreased transportation and increased awareness of the environmental effects of production when located near consumers, but the connection between localism and environmental dividends is variable and tenuous.