Kooij, Bauke van der (2024) Catch Fish, or Catch-22? Master thesis, Sociology.
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Abstract
Many Icelandic communities have depended on fisheries for centuries. In recent decades, however, the importance and attractiveness of this industry have declined, leaving communities vulnerable and prompting them to search for ways to become resilient. Labour diversity and social cohesion are both essential for community resilience, but increased labour diversity may lead to reduced social cohesion - potentially creating a Catch-22 situation. However, eighteen semi-structured interviews (analysed using thematic analysis) conducted in five communities show that more diverse communities are not less socially cohesive. Of the six used indices of social cohesion, more diverse communities score higher on demographic stability, community-related quality of life, and individual quality of life. The findings are less conclusive with regard to social capital and economic inclusion, as well as social inclusion, which seems to diminish once individual opportunities gain greater prominence relative to community-oriented values. Finally, the embedded characteristics of these communities illustrate the context and complexity of breaking out of a (sometimes self-reinforcing) state of precarity. These six characteristics are seasonality, working conditions, foreign labour, infrastructure, individualism and social solidarity, and leadership and individual agency. Strategically leveraging the context of the communities is crucial to manage the trade-offs between social cohesion and economic diversity.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Been, W.M. and Gerner-Haan, M. van |
| Degree programme: | Sociology |
| Differentiation route: | Sociologie van Arbeid, Levensloop & Organisatie [Master Sociology] |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jun 2024 08:04 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Jan 2026 07:14 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3406 |
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