Empowering Communities through Archaeology and Heritage: The Role of Local Governance in Economic Development (Debates in Archaeology)

Peter G. Gould seeks to identify the success factors associated with economic development projects within communities adjacent to archaeological or heritage sites, a growing interest among archaeologists and heritage managers. Typically, the success of site museums, tourism businesses, or crafts cooperatives is rarely reported on in scholarly literature or subjected to systematic study. This book addresses that gap. Gould argues that the success of community projects is inextricably linked to the mechanisms community members use to govern their project activities, and provides a much-needed assessment of the issues relating to community governance. Drawing together insights from economic analysis, political science, tourism scholarship, complexity scholarship, and the governance of non-profit enterprises, Gould suggests a model for community governance and illustrates the workings of that model through four case studies. Armed with this book’s theoretical foundation, heritage professionals will have practical approaches to consider when designing community economic development projects. "Peter G. Gould seeks to identify the essential success factors associated with a growing practice in archaeology: the sponsorship by archaeologists or heritage managers of local projects such as museums, tourism businesses, crafts cooperatives and similar activities within communities adjacent to archaeological or heritage sites. Typically, these are small projects intended to support economic advance in small communities. Rarely are they reported on in scholarly papers and, until now, they have never been subjected to study grounded in economic theory and practice. This is an area of study and analysis that is too important to lack suitable academic attention. This book argues that an essential factor in the success of community projects relates to the mechanisms used to govern the projects at the local level, and provides a much-needed systematical evaluation of the issues surrounding such governance. Drawing together theoretical insights from economics, political science, tourism scholarship, complexity scholarship, and non-profit best practices, it presents a model for community governance structures and illustrates the workings of that model through the four case studies. Armed with this book, practitioners will have both a theoretical foundation and practical approaches to consider when designing community projects"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half-title Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations and Acronyms Introduction 1. Archaeology and Community Economic Development 2. The Public Good Paradigm and Disempowered Communities 3. Governance Alternatives 4. Asociacíon Inkallaqta: An Artisans’ Cooperative in Peru 5. Maya Centre Women’s Group: A Community Business in Belize 6. The Burren Centre: A Heritage Interpretive Center in Ireland 7. I Parchi della Val di Cornia: A Cluster of Heritage Sites in Italy Conclusion Bibliography Index Archaeology and community economic development -- The public good paradigm and disempowered communities -- Governance alternatives -- Asociacion Inkallaqta : an artisans' cooperative in Peru -- Maya Centre women's group : a community business in Belize -- The Burren Centre : a heritage interpretive center in Ireland -- I Parchi della Val di Cornia : a cluster of heritage sites in Italy