“Resilience” – just another buzzword?

As far back as 2013, Time Magazine highlighted "resilience" as the environmental buzzword of the year. Many of the world's leading institutions, from the World Bank to the United Nations, have taken up resilience as a cause célèbre and a fundamental mantra in their work.
Resilience
Table of Contents
Share This Post

As far back as 2013, Time Magazine highlighted “resilience” as the environmental buzzword of the year. Many of the world’s leading institutions, from the World Bank to the United Nations, have taken up resilience as a cause célèbre and a fundamental mantra in their work.

One useful definition of resilience is “the ability of groups or communities to cope with external stresses and disturbances as a result of social, political and environmental change.” Definitions of this type are standard practice, and often go further to emphasize growing stronger as a result of responding to stress. (It’s also worth mentioning at this point that one of the best-known programs in this area, 100 Resilient Cities, recently announced the termination of its program).

Resilience as a concept is to be celebrated but also questioned. It can be a cliche and at worst its imposition can have far-reaching consequences. Indigenous people are of often presented as models of resilience because they supposedly have a proven track record of ‘resourcefulness and response capacity in the face of global climate change’ (Arctic Resilience Report 2016).

This means that indigenous communities are often held up as an example for the rest of the world to follow when facing environmental change. Traditional practices may offer solutions and insight when considering adapting to climate change for other communities that have long since lost contact with nature. This represents a change from previous decades and centuries where governments have dismissed and suppressed indigenous practices. Now they are looking to native people for solutions.

A growing discussion in indigenous discourse, which in many respects applies to all island communities, is the pressure that the “resilience” narrative puts on those people. Yes, some indigenous communities may be more able to adapt to change, but can they withstand the sheer size of the change predicted in the coming century? And should those worst impacted and least responsible for climate change be given the task of responding to it?

One medical definition should give us pause for thought: describing resilience as the ‘trait that enables an individual to recover from stress and to face the next stressor with optimism’.

Of course, resilience has widespread uses with various nuanced meaning, and in many cases is a useful concept. Despite a veil of positivity, it can also be damaging if it is the defining characteristic of islanders or the indigenous, who have long struggled against colonial impositions.

Now a vital buzzword to be used in funding applications, resilience is also a useful tool for analysis. But it can also be reductive and constrictive. Many islanders should be proud of their resilience and resourcefulness, but when we celebrate a concept that arises from the very exposure and vulnerability of climate change, we should also question who benefits the most.

 

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

About the Author
Island Innovation

Island Innovation facilitate connections between island stakeholders and sustainable development practitioners across the globe to share knowledge and promote collaboration.  By creating a support network, we smooth the way for developing innovative solutions to drive economic performance, ensure political stability and promote good governance, which improves the social and environmental conditions within island communities.

Thank you for subscribing!
22-23 May 2024 | Prince Edward Island, Canada

Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2024

Prepare to immerse yourself in this landmark event for the
global island community in 2024!
Live from COP28 - Island of Hope
The Island Innovation Agency Newsletter is a must-read for sustainable business leaders! It delivers a free monthly dose of relevant and valuable business insights, expert advice, downloadable resources, and easy-to-implement ideas for professionals aiming to optimize their results in communication, branding, and networking. By signing up, you will benefit from curated insights for your sustainable brand, exclusive offers, ready-to-use templates and industry news.
Our newsletter on island sustainability is perfect for everyone interested in sustainable development, innovation, and island territories! Every week we compile stories from islands worldwide and highlight commonalities, demonstrating the spectrum of innovation from technology to the arts. Our newsletter brings together globally disparate places and strikes a balance of acknowledging and dealing with critical problems while emphasizing the resourcefulness of isolated communities.