INTANGIBLE

The project aims to deepen understanding of how island cultures are affected by population and demographic change, enrich debates about contemporary island cultures, and shape repopulation and revitalisation policies through creative comparative international research. Policies globally addressing island population change often focus on improving employment prospects, housing, and infrastructure. But less attention is paid to the intangible aspects of shifting island populations. We’re interested in questions like: How has island social and cultural life changed as existing residents have moved away and new people have moved in? What has been lost and what has been gained? How do long-term residents, in-migrants and returners view this change? Our methodology takes an iterative interdisciplinary approach underpinned by a fusing together of traditional and creative data collection methods, and by a participatory ethos folded into a cross-national, comparative analytical framework. 

Questions of cultural change in island communities are increasingly relevant, as the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the attractiveness of islands as places to live and work, enabled by a new norm (in some sectors) of working from home.  

However, we lack understanding of the intangible implications of these mobilities. While newcomers may enhance local, indigenous ways of life and community cohesion, they can also pose challenges: in some areas temporary (summer) populations leave houses empty and the cultural life of the community fragmented; new residents’ expectations, often based on stereotyped or idyllic imaginaries, can lead to social division and lack of integration; and a lack of awareness of the distinctiveness of indigenous cultures can leave places open to majority culture pressure with the potential to erode and alter locally distinctive practices and traditions. In this project address this gap in research to consider quality of life in a holistic, inclusive context to urgently inform decisions and policies so that they contribute to the wellbeing and resilience of all.