Countering Remotisation through Community-led Place-making

Taking the small coastal village of Collieston in Aberdeenshire as a case study, this paper explores how practices of “community-led place-making” and “commoning” – from social activities to community ownership projects – can enrich local democracy and counter processes of “remotisation” that often leave citizens feeling isolated and disempowered. Drawing on a series of in-depth qualitative interviews with local residents, councillors and representatives from the voluntary sector, the paper demonstrates that the success or failure of community-led projects depends on the extent to which they are co-constructed in both formal and informal settings, and highlights the importance of adherence to inclusive and deliberative democratic principles that enable all members of the community to take direct control over local affairs and to make their voice heard. It also explores the wider political context in which local projects are developed, particularly in that of austerity whereby community-led projects can become a way of offloading government responsibilities onto communities without effectively empowering them. It highlights the importance of financial and practical support from local and national government if grassroots practices of commoning are to be successful at countering processes of remotisation and fostering a positive sense of place

Community Development and Social Impact · Labor Movements and Unions · Research in Social Sciences

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