Professor of Anthropology with a PhD from the University of Wisconsin and the Land Tenure Center's Development Studies program. I specialize in Cuba and Costa Rica and focus on eco-tourism and community development.
Under the neoliberal economic model promulgated by the International Monetary Fund, many countrie... more Under the neoliberal economic model promulgated by the International Monetary Fund, many countries such as Costa Rica have changed economic policy to emphasize international tourism. With the increase in tourist arrivals, tourism is considered a major generator of foreign exchange but with externalities subsidized through degradation of local environments. Such development is considered inefficient and unsustainable resource use. Eco-tourism is environmentally friendly due to its small-scale, community based, and reliant on local commodities. Eco-tourism is significant in a world of increasingly scarce natural resources and environmental degradation. A world of environmental limitations requires a shift in tourist modalities. The policy challenge is to decentralize the tourist sector and reorient towards broad-based eco-tourism.
This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to tourism as a means of creatin... more This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to tourism as a means of creating a sustainable future for local communities. In many developing nations top-down economic development is not producing the number or quality of employment opportunities nor the efficient use of local resources. Traditional efforts at economic development have usually been mandated by a centralized state bureaucracy or through direct foreign investment. It is problematic whether such top-down development can employ the appropriate technologies that can be captured by small community organizations. An emphasis on community development is a comprehensive approach utilizing state and local resources in partnership to improve local conditions through community empowerment. If communities can employ local resources to create local economic opportunities to meet local goals there is a greater chance that such development is not only more effective but sustainable as well. Tourism can play a key role in community development through ecological and cultural tourism. A major factor in the success of communities capturing tourist opportunities is the capacity of communities to take advantage of opportunities. A focus of this paper is Cuba's potential to develop into a major eco-and cultural tourism center within international tourism. There are several reasons for Cuba's potential. Recent policy announcements to diversify the economy and move people into private enterprise will require new employment opportunities, especially those with lower opportunity costs and resources. Secondly, the growth of paladores and casas particulares, which provide low environmental impact and resource use, are compatible with eco-cultural tourism's emphasis on the local. Third, Cuba benefits from abundant cultural capital in terms of education, skilled labor force, and a technologically proficient cadre of scientists and researchers. In an era of increasing environmental costs and resource scarcity eco-cultural tourism offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional tourism.
This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the ... more This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the maldistribution of economic resources, poverty, underemployment, and skewed income distribution. With the collapse of the Lomé Convention in 1996, St. Lucia ...
This paper is a case study of a small city undergoing a process of demographic and ethnic change ... more This paper is a case study of a small city undergoing a process of demographic and ethnic change in community, empowerment, and political participation. For the dominant ethnic group these changes are threatening, but resisting the Latino community that they fear tends to set in motion the very conditions that exacerbate the growing prevalence of poverty and the attendant problems of gangs, domestic violence, and school drop-out rates. For the Latino community the challenge to such resistance is through community organizing and bringing pressure upon the city for inclusion in the political structure to influence policy regarding these problems.
This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the ... more This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the maldistribution of economic resources, poverty, underemployment, and skewed income distribution. With the collapse of the Lomé Convention in 1996, St. Lucia saw its banana export market suffer a steep decline. Since then, Lomé St. Lucia has focused on market-led international tourism as the new engine of growth. Market-led development is fraught with economic cycles of up and down that lead to economic uncertainty and catastrophe for many people of limited resources. Much government revenue is spent on tourist-oriented infrastructure at the expense of a well-funded social security system. A new, morally oriented economic philosophy is called for at this time. The focus should be on a basic-needs approach and the welfare of the population rather than the needs of the market for continual growth and profit. In this regard, the paper examines the role of family land tenure in providing a common good to help alleviate the hardships of economic downturn. For thousands of co-owning heirs that may need refuge from the vagaries of the international market, family land can provide temporary economic or subsistence shelter. With an economy of limited opportunity, government policy informed by a sense of moral obligation should encourage family land as a form of social security for those numerous co-owners working in off-farm enterprises such as tourism, in which economic uncertainty is ever present. Journal of International and Global Studies 2
This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of cre... more This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of creating a sustainable future for local Cuban communities. If communities control local resources to create economic opportunities for local goals, there is a greater chance that community development will be more effective and sustainable. Local empowerment can play a key role in community development through ecological and cultural tourism. The focus of this paper is Cuba's potential to develop into a major ecological and cultural tourism center within international tourism. Recent policy announcements regarding the intention to diversify Cuba's economy and move people into private enterprise will require new employment opportunities, especially those with lower opportunity costs and resources. The growth of small paladares (restaurants run by self-employed owners) and casas particulares (rooms for rent in private homes), which provide low environmental impact and resource use, are compatible with eco-cultural tourism's emphasis on the local. In an era of increasing environmental costs and resource scarcity, eco-cultural tourism offers a sustainable alternative to conventional tourism.
This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of cre... more This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of creating a sustainable future for local Cuban communities. If communities control local resources to create economic opportunities for local goals, there is a greater chance that community development will be more effective and sustainable. Local empowerment can play a key role in community development through ecological and cultural tourism. The focus of this paper is Cuba's potential to develop into a major ecological and cultural tourism center within international tourism. Recent policy announcements regarding the intention to diversify Cuba's economy and move people into private enterprise will require new employment opportunities, especially those with lower opportunity costs and resources. The growth of small paladares (restaurants run by self-employed owners) and casas particulares (rooms for rent in private homes), which provide low environmental impact and resource use, are compatible with eco-cultural tourism's emphasis on the local. In an era of increasing environmental costs and resource scarcity, eco-cultural tourism offers a sustainable alternative to conventional tourism.
This book is about change and the future. It is also about choice and risk. The near horizon is w... more This book is about change and the future. It is also about choice and risk. The near horizon is witnessing the gathering of a series of dark, troubling clouds. From the perspective of today, it appears that there are three potentially catastrophic events developing and moving toward convergence: climate change and severe environmental degradation, capitalist consumer political-economy, and socio-cultural change to a post-modern society. Climate change is well recognized by many and some now see also the exploitation of natural resources and degradation of habitats as equally serious. Many people are now beginning to recognize that our current economic system, its operation and the logic of capitalism, is also problematic, creating dysfunction and alienation. Nationally and globally progress has been made to alleviate poverty yet chronic hunger, malnutrition remains and too many lack adequate healthcare, housing and education. Likewise, there are challenges to income and wealth inequality and what such inequality means for democracy, political upheaval, and the vast millions of working and middle class people. Climate change and environmental degradation are related to capitalism and some researchers are beginning to see a relationship between the kind of consumer culture promoted by capitalism and the psychological-cultural effects modern societies are creating. The increase in mass killings, terrorist attacks, and the rise of various forms of fundamen-talism are emblematic of some sort of social pathology in modern society. It is perplexing but should not be too surprising to see an increase in various psychological disorders
Under the neoliberal economic model promulgated by the International Monetary Fund, many countrie... more Under the neoliberal economic model promulgated by the International Monetary Fund, many countries such as Costa Rica have changed economic policy to emphasize international tourism. With the increase in tourist arrivals, tourism is considered a major generator of foreign exchange but with externalities subsidized through degradation of local environments. Such development is considered inefficient and unsustainable resource use. Eco-tourism is environmentally friendly due to its small-scale, community based, and reliant on local commodities. Eco-tourism is significant in a world of increasingly scarce natural resources and environmental degradation. A world of environmental limitations requires a shift in tourist modalities. The policy challenge is to decentralize the tourist sector and reorient towards broad-based eco-tourism.
This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to tourism as a means of creatin... more This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to tourism as a means of creating a sustainable future for local communities. In many developing nations top-down economic development is not producing the number or quality of employment opportunities nor the efficient use of local resources. Traditional efforts at economic development have usually been mandated by a centralized state bureaucracy or through direct foreign investment. It is problematic whether such top-down development can employ the appropriate technologies that can be captured by small community organizations. An emphasis on community development is a comprehensive approach utilizing state and local resources in partnership to improve local conditions through community empowerment. If communities can employ local resources to create local economic opportunities to meet local goals there is a greater chance that such development is not only more effective but sustainable as well. Tourism can play a key role in community development through ecological and cultural tourism. A major factor in the success of communities capturing tourist opportunities is the capacity of communities to take advantage of opportunities. A focus of this paper is Cuba's potential to develop into a major eco-and cultural tourism center within international tourism. There are several reasons for Cuba's potential. Recent policy announcements to diversify the economy and move people into private enterprise will require new employment opportunities, especially those with lower opportunity costs and resources. Secondly, the growth of paladores and casas particulares, which provide low environmental impact and resource use, are compatible with eco-cultural tourism's emphasis on the local. Third, Cuba benefits from abundant cultural capital in terms of education, skilled labor force, and a technologically proficient cadre of scientists and researchers. In an era of increasing environmental costs and resource scarcity eco-cultural tourism offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional tourism.
This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the ... more This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the maldistribution of economic resources, poverty, underemployment, and skewed income distribution. With the collapse of the Lomé Convention in 1996, St. Lucia ...
This paper is a case study of a small city undergoing a process of demographic and ethnic change ... more This paper is a case study of a small city undergoing a process of demographic and ethnic change in community, empowerment, and political participation. For the dominant ethnic group these changes are threatening, but resisting the Latino community that they fear tends to set in motion the very conditions that exacerbate the growing prevalence of poverty and the attendant problems of gangs, domestic violence, and school drop-out rates. For the Latino community the challenge to such resistance is through community organizing and bringing pressure upon the city for inclusion in the political structure to influence policy regarding these problems.
This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the ... more This paper argues that contemporary development policies have failed to solve the problem of the maldistribution of economic resources, poverty, underemployment, and skewed income distribution. With the collapse of the Lomé Convention in 1996, St. Lucia saw its banana export market suffer a steep decline. Since then, Lomé St. Lucia has focused on market-led international tourism as the new engine of growth. Market-led development is fraught with economic cycles of up and down that lead to economic uncertainty and catastrophe for many people of limited resources. Much government revenue is spent on tourist-oriented infrastructure at the expense of a well-funded social security system. A new, morally oriented economic philosophy is called for at this time. The focus should be on a basic-needs approach and the welfare of the population rather than the needs of the market for continual growth and profit. In this regard, the paper examines the role of family land tenure in providing a common good to help alleviate the hardships of economic downturn. For thousands of co-owning heirs that may need refuge from the vagaries of the international market, family land can provide temporary economic or subsistence shelter. With an economy of limited opportunity, government policy informed by a sense of moral obligation should encourage family land as a form of social security for those numerous co-owners working in off-farm enterprises such as tourism, in which economic uncertainty is ever present. Journal of International and Global Studies 2
This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of cre... more This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of creating a sustainable future for local Cuban communities. If communities control local resources to create economic opportunities for local goals, there is a greater chance that community development will be more effective and sustainable. Local empowerment can play a key role in community development through ecological and cultural tourism. The focus of this paper is Cuba's potential to develop into a major ecological and cultural tourism center within international tourism. Recent policy announcements regarding the intention to diversify Cuba's economy and move people into private enterprise will require new employment opportunities, especially those with lower opportunity costs and resources. The growth of small paladares (restaurants run by self-employed owners) and casas particulares (rooms for rent in private homes), which provide low environmental impact and resource use, are compatible with eco-cultural tourism's emphasis on the local. In an era of increasing environmental costs and resource scarcity, eco-cultural tourism offers a sustainable alternative to conventional tourism.
This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of cre... more This paper focuses on community development and its relationship to eco-tourism as a means of creating a sustainable future for local Cuban communities. If communities control local resources to create economic opportunities for local goals, there is a greater chance that community development will be more effective and sustainable. Local empowerment can play a key role in community development through ecological and cultural tourism. The focus of this paper is Cuba's potential to develop into a major ecological and cultural tourism center within international tourism. Recent policy announcements regarding the intention to diversify Cuba's economy and move people into private enterprise will require new employment opportunities, especially those with lower opportunity costs and resources. The growth of small paladares (restaurants run by self-employed owners) and casas particulares (rooms for rent in private homes), which provide low environmental impact and resource use, are compatible with eco-cultural tourism's emphasis on the local. In an era of increasing environmental costs and resource scarcity, eco-cultural tourism offers a sustainable alternative to conventional tourism.
This book is about change and the future. It is also about choice and risk. The near horizon is w... more This book is about change and the future. It is also about choice and risk. The near horizon is witnessing the gathering of a series of dark, troubling clouds. From the perspective of today, it appears that there are three potentially catastrophic events developing and moving toward convergence: climate change and severe environmental degradation, capitalist consumer political-economy, and socio-cultural change to a post-modern society. Climate change is well recognized by many and some now see also the exploitation of natural resources and degradation of habitats as equally serious. Many people are now beginning to recognize that our current economic system, its operation and the logic of capitalism, is also problematic, creating dysfunction and alienation. Nationally and globally progress has been made to alleviate poverty yet chronic hunger, malnutrition remains and too many lack adequate healthcare, housing and education. Likewise, there are challenges to income and wealth inequality and what such inequality means for democracy, political upheaval, and the vast millions of working and middle class people. Climate change and environmental degradation are related to capitalism and some researchers are beginning to see a relationship between the kind of consumer culture promoted by capitalism and the psychological-cultural effects modern societies are creating. The increase in mass killings, terrorist attacks, and the rise of various forms of fundamen-talism are emblematic of some sort of social pathology in modern society. It is perplexing but should not be too surprising to see an increase in various psychological disorders
Uploads
Papers by Jack Thornburg
Drafts by Jack Thornburg