Our Research

The CDI maintains a clear focus on research and on providing access to valuable resources toward the goal of increasing knowledge and understanding and building capacity around community, regional, and economic development. Our goal is to balance both applied and basic work so as to maintain academic credibility and to be of practical relevance to communities.

The information in this section is organized by topic. Please contact us if you need help finding information or have a question about any of the research or resources included here.

  • Can New Information Technology Build/Maintain a Civil Society: Community Economic Development Centre, Simon Fraser University

    • Community and Economic Development and Transformation

    1997

    This research is part of a larger project on the possible/potential role of new information technologies in supporting/creating a civil society. It is increasingly clear that access to needed and relevant information forms a crucial linkage between the formation and enhancement of civil society and the success of community development and community economic development initiatives. If local community groups, the very foundation of civil society, are to be successful in their efforts and endeavours, then their access to information must be both efficient and effective.

    The geographic focus of the project: "Pluralism in Community Development Practices: Can New Information Technology Build/Maintain A Civil Society?", is rural and small town communities. Such locations have historically been disadvantaged with respect to access to information and information sources. Large distances and small local populations (critical mass) are well known and well documented impediments for rural and small town communities across much of North America. Against this backdrop, there is considerable interest and debate at present about the potential role which new information technologies, especially computer based information access and retrieval technologies, may play in changing this historic relationship.

    For more details and reports, please visit the Information Technology and Society research section for Professor Greg Halseth.

  • New E-Book Co-edited by Dr. Greg Halseth and Tor Gjertsen

    Congratulations to UNBC Geography's Dr. Greg Halseth and his co-editor Tor Gjertsen on the recent publication of an eBook entitled, Sustainable Development in the Circumpolar North Announcement
     
    Focusing on the development of a sustainable future for rural and northern regions, the book touches on the themes of governance, community, economic, and social development, as well as development in Indigenous communities and regions. At its core, the publication confronts critical issues and ways to facilitate positive change for communities that are experiencing economic and social transformation.
     
    For more information:

    Access the CDI's Sustainable Development in the Circumpolar North Announcement

    Download the full text of the eBook.

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