Sustainability, Local Democracy and the Future: The Swedish Model

1. Sustainability Issues at a Local Level Interplaying with the Global World — Political and Identity Topics.- 1. Sustainability Issues in an International Context.- 2. Summary.- 2. Critical Notes on Sustainability and Democracy.- 1. Democracy as a Problem.- 2. Sustainable Development as a Democratic Problem.- 3. Sustainable Development and Democratic Vitalization as Political Strategy.- 3. Sustainability as a Centrally-Induced Swedish Local Discourse.- 1. Swedish Follow-up of Our Common Future.- 2. Preparations for UNCED in 1992.- 3. Agenda 21 at the Central Level in Sweden.- 4. The LA21 Work — Meeting the Signals from the Central Level.- 5. Discussion.- 4. An Introduction to Östergötland, the Case Region.- 1. Province and County.- 2. County Administrative Board.- 3. County Council.- 4. Municipal Council.- 5. The History of Östergötland — A Brief Overview.- Perceptions of Environmental Issues in Linköping and Åtvidaberg.- 5. Four Pillars Forming the Identity of Linkoping.- 1. “It’s a Quiet Town...”.- 2. Ecclesiastical Centre: The Church — Working with the State and Against It.- 3. Centre of Regional Administration: State Politics, Power Struggles and the Long Arm of the State.- 4. Centre of Teaching and Learning: From Clerical Skills to World-class High-tech.- 5. Military Centre: Military Dominance — A Thing of the Past.- 6. Working in Linköping.- 7. Present and Future Linköping: Physical and Virtual Communications.- 8. The Art of Selling Linköping.- 9. From Rivalry to Co-operation.- 6. Linköping and Local Agenda 21: Sustainability, Technocracy or Democracy?.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Political Communication.- 3. Risk Communication.- 4. The Role of Science and the Technological Approach.- 5. Linköping and Local Agenda 21.- 6. The Media.- 7. TheMedia and LA21 in Linköping.- 8. The Public.- 9. Public Reactions to the Media.- 10. Discussion.- 7. Åtvidaberg and Identity Shifts: Breaking Up is Hard.- 1. Identity and Mobilization in Three Stages.- 2. The Big Industry Era: A History of Creativity and Drama.- 3. Political Centralization and Counter-moves.- 4. Local Focus: Encapsulation or an Add-on Identity Feature.- 5. Conclusions: The Place of a Garden City in a Global Village.- 8. Local Democracy Facing Global Challenge: Analysis and Conclusions.- 1. The Three Issues.- 2. Cross-over Themes.- 3. Future Potential Directions.- Contributors List.