Collaborative Sustainability Analyzing Economic and Social Outcomes in the Context of Cittaslow
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2015
Yazarlar: Elif Üstündağli, Miray BAYBARS, Ebru Belkıs GÜZELOĞLU
Business and Economics Research Journal, Uluslararası, 2015, cilt 6, ss 125-144
Özet
Abstract: Accelerating industrialization increased negative consequences related with resources and ecosystem which in turn increased importance of sustainable development strategies depending on regional dynamicsand local resources. Slow City (Cittaslow) movement serves a collaborative sustainable development model that focuses on both protection of local values and local economy including all stakeholders in the process while supporting social transformations in its own global local network. This study examines the changes in Seferihisar's - Slow capital city of Turkey - local economy after the membership of Slow City movement in terms of economic and social changes. In this study, purposive sampling was used and the data was collected with interview method from the team of Seferihisar Municipality which actively engaged in Cittaslow activities. The data was analyzed with content analysis method. At the end of the study, it was found that Seferihisar's local economy is changed in domains of status in global network, local production and consumption and social situation. The unique value of this study is discussing about negative aspects of changes which are not elaborated before and interaction between economic and social transformations.Keywords: Sustainability, slow city, collaboration, SeferihisarJEL Classification: Q56, H75, R111. IntroductionEmergent problems of the industrialization about global market dynamics, natural resources and ecosystem have brought about development projects which are ecosystem friendly and even anti-industrial. Supporting unique local and regional resources, accelerated pace of local economies has precipitated decline in nation-state economic models and has enabled local attempts and actors' prominence in the global economy (Mayer & Knox,2010: 1546). Although local economies' growth concern - sticks them in globalization - leads local resources serve for fast growing dynamics in an exploitive manner (Mayer K Grzelak-Kostulska, Holowiecka & Kwiatkowski, 2011; Carp, 2012). Main discussions are concentrating on the positive effects of slow city movements on tourism, city image and destination marketing (Karabag, YucelI Lowry& Lee, 2011:9; TimmsC GrzelakKostulska, Holowiecka & Kwiatkowski, 2011: 187). However as discussions are taken further, discussions like economic value coming from recycling waste, increase in employment and wellbeing (Sirim, 2012:129), fair income distribution (Karabag, Yucel&Inal, 2012: 74) also contributed to the literature to have a deeper understanding. Local governments are both active agents as implementation units and also passive agents which are affected from outcomes.Besides, a more social focus will be helpful to reflect the transformation effect of slow city movements in social life which is an important indicator of 'actual' outcomes which tell more about the perception of people who are both managing and experiencing it. For this reason, throughout the study, local government perspective is tried to be reflected so that it will be helpful to demonstrate a 'bird's eye' view on all 'stakeholders' of the process that create value for the unity and also on social interactions. …