Literature Review

Small, rural and remote regions around the world are transforming due to forces outside of their control such as globalization, neoliberalism and climate change. While often characterized as being in a state of decline due to dwindling populations and employment opportunities, this literature review reveals that numerous small communities are finding ways to capitalize on these forces of change. The review focuses on regions similar to the Magdalen Islands – situated in the western world, shaped by colonial powers, and relatively well off. The common pattern found among the successful cases is a development approach that is internally focused, builds on existing assets (human, physical and intangible) and is scale appropriate with results that are, therefore necessarily unique to each community. These cases all include senior government support, especially in the form of funding, and in some instances, capacity building, that allows community members to carry the torch and take up the work of revitalizing their community in the ways they deem appropriate.