Problem
Deteriorating community identity
Experimental visualization of narrower problems
Other Names:
Community declineDepreciated community pride
Vague community memory
Ignored community deterioration
Dispersing social base
Nature:
Transitions in lifestyle occasioned by current societal shifts often tear apart the unifying fabric in small communities. As a community declines, its role as the focal point of residents' life has diminished vitality. Many residents remain isolated from and cynical about the community, even when the town or village had a rich heritage. There are few formal means to profit from the knowledge and experience of those who founded the community; and residents have a debilitating image of the place, related to loss of business, community decline, and a multitude of problems. Old industries and closed stores witness to lost greatness; unused buildings and land suggest that the area has been passed by. Adults and young people look elsewhere for work since they see no vocational future in the locality. Incidence:
Significantly diminished population plus the traditional pattern of social stratification, which is now virtually accepted as the fated role of the villager, have resulted in many rural villages having paralyzing and depreciating self-images that undermine their sense of community identity. Although some residents may remember a more active time when there was much commerce and frequent community celebrations, the underlying tone becomes that of failure, with few visible or spoken community traditions. Often the village location is not even indicated on maps. Broader Problems:
DeclineLoss of capacity with ageFelt community powerlessnessSocially unsustainable developmentDetrimental story of community futureRestrictive effects of tradition-bound community decision-making Narrower Problems:
Dim business futureLimited railroad usageHistorical rootlessnessDistrust of storekeepersDistrust of storekeepersCommunity demoralizationUnrecovered lost authorityFragmented community imageUnsuccessful economic venturesInsufficient community holidaysInfrequent achievement of honoursInadequate care of community spaceRestricted scope of local employmentBreakdown of local community cohesionDemoralizing image of urban community identityUnexplored alternatives for community developmentFragmentation of social structures in depressed areas Related Problems:
Multiple personality disorder Aggravates:
Undermined citizen confidenceSocial disaffection of the youngContinuing expectation of community declineUnderutilization of potential in local communitiesStifled potential for social interaction among different age groups Strategies:
Maintaining common community memorySustaining community moraleUndertaking community renewalMonitoring community decline Subject(s):
Society → SocialSociety → Communities
Societal Problems → Vulnerability
Government → Citizenship
Psychology → Psychology
Innovative change → Change
Innovative change → Appropriateness
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
01.01.2000 – 00:00 CET