Post-Coal Fantasies: An Actor-Network Theory-Inspired Critique of Post-Coal Development Strategies in the Jiu Valley, Romania
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background: Stages of Actor (Mis)Alignment
3. Methodology and Case Description
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Network Alignment during the Planned Economy
“In Romania’s Jiu Valley, the state had long taken a paternal role with the miners, providing them free housing, electricity, heat, water and highly subsidized food in order to assure the promise of upward mobility.”[27] (p. 432)
4.2. The Network Unravels: The Violent Misalignments of the 1990s and Beyond
- The shrinking of the working class and migration to rural areas, a phenomenon typical of pre-capitalist societies;
- Insecurity, unemployment, underemployment, and lack of employment opportunities;
- The deterioration of the standard of living and the loss of the working class prestige for (heavy) industrial workers;
- Degradation of the housing stock;
- Degradation of urban infrastructure;
- Reduced access to education and health services.
4.3. Towards a New Alignment? The Jiu Valley Strategy and the Challenge of a Just Transition
- Improving the quality of life and creating a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.
- Economic diversification, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Sustainable use of local specificity.
- Accessibility, mobility, and connectivity.
5. Conclusions
“The encouragement to develop extractive industries is often coupled with the advice to avoid developing an excessive dependency on a single economic sector. [However] the very regions and nations having the greatest need to hear such advice may also have the lowest realistic ability to respond to it.”[69] (p. 305)
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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City | Population | % of Jiu Valey Total |
---|---|---|
Petroșani | 40,319 | 31% |
Vulcan | 27,274 | 21% |
Lupeni | 25,375 | 19% |
Petrila | 23,627 | 18% |
Uricani | 9196 | 7% |
Aninoasa | 4458 | 3% |
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Țoc, S.; Alexandrescu, F.M. Post-Coal Fantasies: An Actor-Network Theory-Inspired Critique of Post-Coal Development Strategies in the Jiu Valley, Romania. Land 2022, 11, 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071022
Țoc S, Alexandrescu FM. Post-Coal Fantasies: An Actor-Network Theory-Inspired Critique of Post-Coal Development Strategies in the Jiu Valley, Romania. Land. 2022; 11(7):1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071022
Chicago/Turabian StyleȚoc, Sebastian, and Filip Mihai Alexandrescu. 2022. "Post-Coal Fantasies: An Actor-Network Theory-Inspired Critique of Post-Coal Development Strategies in the Jiu Valley, Romania" Land 11, no. 7: 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071022
APA StyleȚoc, S., & Alexandrescu, F. M. (2022). Post-Coal Fantasies: An Actor-Network Theory-Inspired Critique of Post-Coal Development Strategies in the Jiu Valley, Romania. Land, 11(7), 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071022