Who are invisible citizens? Course introduction. Garri Raagmaa University of Tartu

Transcription

1 Who are invisible citizens? Course introduction Garri Raagmaa University of Tartu

2 Who are invisible citizens? Invisible populations in the countryside: Assessing relationships of second home users to rural areas in Sweden. Growing number of city people renovate distant farm houses and/or build specially designed summerhouses-cabins and commute on weekly basis or seasonally to the countryside They act like tourists consuming places outside their permanent residence but their presence is not recorded

3 Population registration increasingly differs from reality We may expect due to increasing personal mobility, ageing population and climate change a lot of pressure to the Baltic coasts. This process creates new geographies: landscapes, flows and governance. Most critical (both for researchers and planners) with this raising mobility is that we have no idea where people actually are. Current population registration and even census questionnaires assume that people live and work permanently in one place. This is increasingly less correct!

4 Invisible citizens are/may contribute to local communities Another ring of studies analyses how temporary dwellers are integrated to the local communities and take part in local governance. They may contribute to the local community life, being even leaders of local actions, but may stop also any development initiative because requesting peace and quiet. So it s important how local communities are transforming and integrate with the newcomers.

5 Population change Allikas: Statistikaamet, REL 2011

6 Population change by km2

7 Population change by km 2

8 Population in July Allikas: Ahas jt. 2010

9 Population during weekends Allikas: Ahas jt. 2010

10 Questions What is the real number of people during the different periods of time (summer holiday, spring weekends, and autumn business days) in a particular area/locality? What social and power (governance) structures can be found in these particular areas/localities? How native and temporary citizens see the future of these particular areas/localities? What impacts have temporary citizens on local land use and landscapes?

11 Description of the programme 1 1) Readings and seminars about second housing and recreation in the peripheries prior to the course. 2) Case study seminar of national second house districts. 3) Introduction of Latvian and Estonian Central Government institutions responsible for rural development and Population registration

12 Description of the programme 2 4) Theories about the second housing and recreation and their role in the peripheries. 5) Empirical evidences about the population and settlement dynamics in Estonia and Latvia and the impact of governance to the peripherization. 6) Methodological training about the case study design, observation and intensive research methods.

13 Description of the programme 3 7) Excursion to visit local and regional institutions, enterprises and communities. 8) Designing a case study group work plan. 9) Carrying out an independent group work: case study (in groups) in one Estonian-Latvian second house areas 10) Training on reporting and making presentations. 11) Preparing and defending a study report in groups.

14 The overall task: fix the number of people in every real estate unit and village Mid Nov Mid February Easter holidays Midsummer eve Mid July weekend When there is the highest number of people, specify why Weekend Business day XXX XXX

15 You can gather additional information from The municipality administration: eg. using waste collection databases (that distinguishes permanent, part time and seasonal dwellers). land surveillance officer social care officer municipal secretary the village elder or (otherwise, if there are no local governance structures) from the neighbours and personal interviews with owners/tenants.

16 Describe governance, network and power structures of the case study area Formal organizations Informal organizations and groupings Do local people have access to higher power or business structures? How? e.g. via municipal or national elected bodies, pay special attention to second house owners who may be members of creative class (actors, artists, writers), CEOs of large companies, civil servants or politicians. How second house owners are participating/involved in local development Do local people, second house owners and visitors communicate? Are second house owners joining local organizations or have their own local organisations/groupings Are second house owners and visitors contributing to the local community? If yes then in what form? Voluntary work Finances Sharing contacts Sharing knowledge Participating in local politics Participation of local village/social organizations in LEADER groups.

17 Try to find out how native and temporary citizens see the future of your case study area/locality. What are the values and reasons different people live/visit the place. Home Place for (tourism) business Place to recharge batteries How they see the future of their village/wider area Do they contribute to the local/municipal development plan? Are there differences in the behaviour of native people and temporary inhabitants? Usually part-timers are more against the new developments, e.g. new tourism developments because they request peace and quiet. But it might be vice versa: more wealthy people would support setup of new services, e.g. local tavern. Are there conflicts on the base of different visions? How these conflicts, if any, have been solved?

18 Try to find out what impacts have temporary citizens on local land use and landscapes What is the general milieu and feeling in the village? How look like the holdings of native people and temporary citizens. Any differences? How look like previous structures built before 1990s: houses, farms, industrial sites. Describe new developments (if any) in your case study areas during the last 20 years? What kind of land use has been practiced by second house owners, do they have some kind of agricultural production? Are tourism and recreational activities carried out by natives or part-timers? Which is the most beautiful and cosy village in your area? Why?

19 Some recommendations for the fieldworks Start writing of your report right in the first working group meeting. Eg. compile theoretical part you excited from your earlier readings or writings. The text you produce would be clever to write in a way and form suitable for the final report. Share responsibilities within the group: Leadership (can be rotated) Data processing Writing/editing a text Interviewing Designing maps and drawings Making photos

20 Some more tips Pls. consider that there are very few speakers of foreign languages in rural areas. So share your responsibilities accordingly: use the time resource of your native speakers sparingly. This means that first of all, try to find speakers of languages your group members handle: ask at the municipal hall, village elder who might be able to communicate in other languages (might be also Scandinavian, Finnish, Russian) so you can use your time. Probably good sources of information are local tourism companies/farms and events interview their managers and organizers: they have often more sober outsider view to local affairs