Scholarly record
FOSTERING LOCAL IDENTITY AS A LEVERAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
Fostering local identity is seen as a way of differentiating between communities, which, in the context of an ever increasing globalization, tend to become more and more similar. Elements like landscape and popular culture still contribute to keeping and shaping a distinct local identity. Identifying the role played by local identity in the development of a community has a large economic, social and ecological importance. The presence of certain practices, traditions, customs and other events (promotion of traditional products, practicing a sustainable tourism, etc.) can lead to a more efficient local sustainable development. Identifying the mechanisms by which local identity contributes to the process of sustainable development is the main objective of this research. The subject has been addressed through a case study on Tirgu NeamИ› ethnographic sub-area (located in the North East Region of Romania).We carried out participant observations and interviews with the relevant territorial actors, through which we determined the specific leverages by which the feeling of local identity helps to increase the local cohesion and leads to a better development and promotion of touristic/economic activities in the area. In Tirgu NeamИ› ethnographic sub-area, local identity is still well protected and represented by identity referents (the presence of popular craftsmen, the existence of cattle markets and fairs, the existence of artistic-cultural manifestations like festivals and celebrations regarding the patron saints of churches, etc.) which contribute to the touristic promotion of the area and to the sustainable development of the whole community. In addition to those above, it is worth mentioning other ways of fostering local identity in a community, like manifestations aiming to revitalize forgotten habits and traditions by involving the young (traditional dances, handicraft evening sittings), through local practices of traditional crafts and other aspects related to the sustainable development of the community.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References11
Government Decisions No.90 / 2010 on the organization and functioning of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage published in the Official Gazette, Part I no. 116 of 22/02/2010.
Kunzmann, K.R., Culture, creativity and spatial planning, Town Planning Review, Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 383- 404, 2004.
Copeland, T., European democratic citizenship, heritage education and identity, Department of Cultural Heritage, Strasbourg Cedex, France, Council of Europe, March, 2006, p. 25.
Gillis, J. R., Memory and identity: the history of a relationship, in John R. Gillis (ed.), Commemorations: the politics of national identity, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994, p. 3.
Wagner, P., From monuments to human rights: redefining heritage in the work of the Council of Europe, in Council of Europe, Forward planning: the function of the cultural heritage in a changing Europe – Experts contributions, Strasbourg: Council of Europe, pp. 8-28, 2000.
UNESCO, Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, Paris, 2003.
Law no. 410 of 29.12.2005 regarding the acceptance of the Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage adopted in Paris on 17 October 2003, p.3.
Bulai, M., Accessibility and Tourism, Case Study for the Moldova Region, ”Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Press, Iași, 2013, p.142.
The National Institute of Statistics Romania, 2015.
The Centre for research and consultancy in the culture field, Sectorial strategy in the field of culture and National Heritage for the period 2014-2020, p. 17, online at:www.cultura.ro/uploads/files/STRATEGIA_%20SECTORIALA_IN_DOMENIUL_CULTU RII_2014-2020.pdf, on June, 20, 2015.
The National Heritage Institute, 2014.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
