Reenacting the periphery: The material and social resources of the green economy

Associate prof. Madeleine Eriksson, Department of Geography, Umeå University, Sweden.

The ‘global push’ for a ‘green economy’ has big effects on the circulation of capital and people and not least on small places targeted by mega investments in low-carbon infrastructures and technologies. Northern Sweden, as a peripheral part of ‘global north’, has now become the scene for mega investments in, among other things, battery cells and decarbonized steel, but also increasingly a key site for the extraction of natural resources required for a green transition. This lecture will focus on the logics of these processes in light of previous developments in the region. It will discuss the long-term impacts on migrant workers, local communities, and the environment. Hence bringing forth questions on social reproduction and peripheralization, rooted in the appropriation and extraction of both material and social resources.

Effects of migration on peripheral regions: local impacts and global trends

Prof. Maria Abreu, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge (UK).

The economic and social impacts of migratory moves have become more pronounced as regional inequalities increase, and peripheral regions suffer from out-migration of skilled workers and ageing populations. These trends also intersect with global migration patterns in complex ways. In addition, the accelerating impact of climate change has resulted in growing numbers of climate migrants, seeking lower exposure to flooding and other extreme weather events, and representing opportunities for formerly depopulating regions. My talk will evaluate recent developments in the literature of migration and depopulation in the context of global trends such as humanitarian migration and climate change, and discuss new regional and national policies that have been proposed as a response to these challenges.

Migrant Workers in Rural Labour Markets: Solutions, Problems, or Threats?

Prof. Johan Fredrik Rye, Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway).

Over the past twenty years, rural labour markets in Scandinavia have seen a significant influx of migrant workers. A review of the literature reveals that these workers are often viewed as potential solutions to the challenges faced by rural communities, as they provide essential, high-quality labour for rural industries and help counteract population decline. However, the introduction of migrant workers brings with it a set of novel complex issues for rural regions and communties. These workers often face poor integration into local communities, strain already fragile rural welfare services and infrastructure, and constitute a highly mobile population prone to re-migration. Furthermore, at times, they are also perceived as threats to established traditions and practices of rural communities, sparking fears and sometimes outright discrimination. The presentation explores various aspects of rural in-migration of migrant workers and examines how rural societies receive these individuals, and argues for more balanced approaches to labour migration in rural labour markets. Crucially, efforts should focus on 'normalising' and 'de-otherising' this group to foster better integration and mutual understanding to enhance their valuable contributions to contemporary rural regions.