Rit Mógilsár - 01.03.2004, Blaðsíða 3

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Jóhannesson, G.Þ. Transformations and coping strategies: Strate-
gies of people living in agricultural areas to cope with societal trans-
formations. Icelandic Forest Research 19/2004, 48 pp.

The research that this paper is based on addresses coping strate-
gies of people living in agricultural areas in Iceland. The paper is
based on ethnographic research conducted in a valley named
Fljótsdalur, in the Eastern part of Iceland. Traditionally, sheep-
farming has been the main source of income for the inhabitants in
Fljótsdalur.
The paper begins with a brief discussion of key concepts that high-
light the social processes the inhabitants of Fljótsdalur, among oth-
ers, have to cope with. These are globalisation, coping strategies
and social capital. The idea of globalisation frames social transfor-
mations but coping strategies and social capital cast light on inno-
vation processes, reflexive identity construction and the importance
of social networks. Applied together, these concepts are useful for
explaining and analysing different circumstances and practises of
people.
The main part of the paper discusses the development of the regu-
latory framework for sheep-farming, social changes in the locality of
Fljótsdalur and various coping strategies of the inhabitants. One
case of an innovation project is presented, i.e. “Héraðsskógar”.
“Héraðsskógar” is a regional forestry project, which is to some ex-
tent based on social networks and the practise of social capital.
In the end conclusions are summarised. Sheep-farmers in Fljótsda-
lur are coping with global transformations using different strategies.
The case of “Héraðsskógar” casts light on which kind of innovation
projects can be successful in agricultural areas as well it gives an
important insight into how individuals formulate and practise coping
strategies.

Keywords: Globalisation, coping strategies, social capital, innova-
tion.