INTANGIBLE: Understanding the social and cultural dimensions of island population change in Scotland, England, Canada and Japan

Depopulation is a real and current threat for many islands worldwide. Typically, this is caused by young people leaving for higher education and jobs in cities, resulting in declining population levels and demographic imbalance. Dwindling population numbers have clear impacts on the resilience and future viability of a community, while ageing populations put pressure on often under-staffed health and social care services. There is some evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the attractiveness of islands as places to live and work, enabled by a new culture of working from home (Vogiazides & Kawalerowicz, 2023: Aberg & Tondelli, 2021). However, the possibility of moving to an island is only available to some sections groups of society and has been referred to as “lifestyle”, ‘amenity’ or “privileged” migration (Argent et al., ), meaning that the potential for repopulation is infused with questions of equality and power. The longer-term impacts of this influx are yet to unfold. While newcomers may enhance local, indigenous ways of life and community cohesion, they can also pose a grave threat: temporary (summer) populations leave houses empty and the cultural life of the community fragmented; new residents’ expectations based on their own life experiences and often stereotyped or idyllic imaginaries, often based as much on media and cultural narratives as on realistic research, can lead to social division and lack of integration (e.g. Auer & Carson, 2010, Cloke et al. 1998); and a lack of awareness of the distinctiveness of minority indigenous cultures can leave places open to hegemonic, majority pressure with the potential to disperse and silence communities of heritage practice linked to place. It is imperative that this gap in research is addressed in order to consider quality of life in a holistic, inclusive context to urgently inform decisions and policies so that they contribute to the wellbeing and resilience of all.
To address this critical gap, the project will explore social and cultural aspects of island repopulation initiatives in Scotland, England, Canada and Japan, with a view to better understanding what is gained and lost through repopulation, sharing learning between national contexts, and determining what makes a strong foundation for a vibrant future.

The project aims to deepen understanding of how island cultures are affected by population change, enrich debates about contemporary island cultures, and shape repopulation policies through creative comparative international research.
Specifically, the project will:

-Explore the perceptions of island residents (from long term residents to recent migrants) of how island social and cultural life is shaped by de- and re-population, and their reflections on their own place in that change, including the impacts on different age groups and genders.

-Enrich understanding of the social and cultural impacts of island repopulation, reflecting on accepted narratives and looking beyond incomer/local binaries.

-Share and discuss the experiences emerging from different national settings with residents, community groups and policy-makers.

-Listen to and facilitate dialogue between diverse island voices regarding future priorities for social integration and cultural preservation/evolution.

-Co-create policy guidelines for addressing social and cultural dimensions of island repopulation in different national contexts, including lessons from other countries.