Abstract
The globalisation of exchanges has resulted in excessive growth of material and immaterial flows. The disconnection among the supply, production, decision-making and consumption sites generates new spatial interdependencies. It determines local socio-economic dynamics and affects ecosystems. In this context, the question arises if territorial capability—“localized collective capacity to serve territorial development”—influences, from local level, these globalised flows systems. By combining territorial economic principles and territorial ecology approaches, we study the industrial metabolism of the Maurienne valley in France. The Maurienne case shows how territorial characteristics contribute to the economic resilience in rural areas. The calculation of wealth flows provides information on the local economic base, the weight of industry and its social impact. The analysis of physical flows reveals the materiality of this industry and the dependence on external resources and international companies. It highlights the various pressures and risks on the environment. To deal with these constraints, companies rely on relational and geographic proximities with local subcontractors. These relationships determine both the proper functioning of the local industrial system and the territorial capability to maintain and transform industrial activities. Most rural European territories experience the same industrial issues and environmental challenges. Therefore, this study offers new research perspectives to better understand and promote ecological transition in old and often rural industrial areas.
Highlights
The interactions between nature and economic activities have resulted in industrial systems that generate increasingly globalised flows (Storper 2004) of materials and Communicated by Sandra Lavorel and accepted by Topical Collection Chief Editor Christopher Reyer.This article is part of the Topical Collection on Trajectories of socio-ecological change in mountainsThe concept of capability was first introduced at the individual level (Sen 1980)
The territory is an institutional area, but it becomes a dynamic organisation that takes full control of its growth trajectory, either by seizing an opportunity or bypassing an obstacle (Buclet and Donsimoni 2018) but always in cooperation with other territories. An analysis of these interdependencies, from the hinterland to more far-off exchanges, provides better knowledge about levers for local action (Barles 2012; Bahers et al 2020). Understanding this territorial capability of utilising multi-scale flow systems is key to tackling major environmental challenges and to getting territories to commit to an ecological transition
By reconciling the approach of territorial economics and territorial ecology, we propose to analyse the industrial system of the Maurienne valley, both in its material and social dimensions
Summary
The interactions between nature and economic activities have resulted in industrial systems that generate increasingly globalised flows (Storper 2004) of materials (incoming and outgoing flows of raw materials and commodities) and Communicated by Sandra Lavorel and accepted by Topical Collection Chief Editor Christopher Reyer. The capability approach purports that freedom is based on what people can do in the pursuit
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