ARCTIC Development in Remote Regions: What Do We Know?

• Main Authors: Lee Huskey, Thomas A. Morehouse
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.563.5905; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic45-2-128.pdf

ABSTRACT. This article assesses a recent body of research on economic development and socio-political change in northern and other remote regions of developed Western nations. The regions include northem Canada, Alaska, northern Scandinavia, Australia’s Northern Territory, and Micronesia. Research topics covered are theoretical perspectives, resource development, Native claims, and village economies. “Remote regions ” are physically, economically, and politically distant from centers of wealth and power; they are culturally or ethnically diverse and sparsely settled; and they exhibit extreme limits on their autonomy, self-sufficiency, and welfare. “Development ” of these regions is defined as the overcoming of internal and external obstacles to change in conditions associated with their remoteness. The authors ask whether the research has increased our understand-ing of the nature of these regions and of their development problems. Their answer is generally affirmative, but they also identify specific research gaps, problems, and needs. The latter include needs for more explicit theorizing, comparative and historical approaches, and research on resource ownership, Native claims outcomes, village subsistence, and population migration. Key words: Canada, Alaska, remote regions, development, resources, Native claims, village economies RESUME. Cet article Cvalue un ensemble de recherches effectutes rtcemment sur le dtveloppement Cconomique et les changements socio-politiques dans la partie septentrionale et dans des rCgions tloigntes de nations occidentales dtvelopptes. Ces rCgions comprennent le nord du Canada,]’Alaska, le nord de la Scandinavie, le Territoire du Nord australien ainsi que la MicronCsie. Les sujets de recherche couverts sont les vues thtoriques, la mise en valeur des ressources, les revendications autochtones et les bonomies de village. Les rtgions Bloigntes sont, aux plans physique, Cconomique et politique, distantes des centres de richesse t de pouvoir; elles prtsentent une certaine diversit6 du ...