‘Fracking’: Promoter and destroyer of ‘the good life’

Darrick Evensen,Rich Stedman

doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.02.020

Darrick Evensen, Rich Stedman

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.02.020

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Abstract

When discussing the effects of resource extraction in rural communities, academics commonly focus on specific and concrete impacts that fall nicely into the categories of environmental, economic, and social – for example, effects on water quality, jobs, and roads. A less common way of conceptualising effects of extractive industries, but more akin to the way in which rural residents discuss and experience the complex set of effects, is changes to way of life. A growing literature explores effects on ‘wellbeing’ and ‘the good life’ as important determinants of responses to development projects, and as necessary considerations for policies regulating such development. One approach to conceptualising the good life – Aristotle's ideas of eudaimonia (human flourishing) and the pursuit of eudaimonia (perfectionism) – remains underdeveloped as a means for characterising how rural residents respond to natural resource extraction. We use the example of unconventional gas development (UGD) to illustrate how definitions of human flourishing – and perfectionist pursuit of that flourishing – strongly motivate support for and opposition to a contentious extractive industry in the rural communities where development is occurring or is likely to occur. This occurs through commitments to: a rural way of life, retaining local population, beauty, peace, and/or quiet. Approximately fifty interviews across six US and three Canadian communities support this vital role for conceptions of human flourishing. The import of human flourishing to members of the public, and of them pursuing that flourishing through perfectionism, has crucial implications for communication and policy related to extractive development. Policy makers need to consider how the public's definitions for flourishing shape their support/opposition, and not just to focus on the economic and environmental impacts commonly discussed in policy discourse.

Highlights

Our research focuses on three communities each in the US states of New York (NY) and Pennsylvania (PA) and the Canadian province of New Brunswick (NB)
Earlier we described perfectionism as a strong commitment to pursue one's own definition of human flourishing; this flourishing can be for the self or for one's larger society
Our interview data with rural residents in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Brunswick suggest that beliefs about what constitutes human flourishing are relevant for understanding community responses to unconventional gas development (UGD)

Summary

Introduction

Nations such as Australia, Canada, and myriad European countries, have engaged in a concerted effort to redefine wellbeing (Bache and Reardon, 2016; Scott, 2012). The trend is to move away from (purely) economic indicators of wellbeing and/or to supplement such economic measures (e.g., GDP) with more subjective indicators. Adopting a new focus has not, been straightforward. Bache and Reardon (2016) explain, ‘Contestation over the definition, measurement and responsibility for wellbeing are a central feature of attempts to bring wellbeing into policy: it is a “wicked problem”’ Adopting a new focus has not, been straightforward. Bache and Reardon (2016) explain, ‘Contestation over the definition, measurement and responsibility for wellbeing are a central feature of attempts to bring wellbeing into policy: it is a “wicked problem”’ (pp. 5e6).

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