Living on the Other Side of Nowhere

Table of Contents

PART I

CHAPTER ONE - Unraveling Meanings of Community

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Context: The Fisheries Crisis

1.2 Theory and Methodology

1.3 A Reflexive Process

1.4 Overview

CHAPTER TWO - Towards a Definition of Community Within a Feminist Framework

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Definitions of community

2.2 Theories of Community

2.2.1 Theory of Community Lost

2.2.2 Folk Society Theory

2.2.3 Social Constructionist Theory

2.3 Newfoundland Community Research

2.4 Constructing a Definition of Community

2.5 Conclusion

PART II

CHAPTER THREE - Resilience and Resistance: Early Settlement by Europeans

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Local History: An Abundance of Connections

3.1.1 Connecting with the Past through the Fishery and the Ocean

3.1.2 Connections to the Early Settlers

3.1.3 A Living History

3.1.4 A Longing for the Old Country

3.1.5 Parallel Lives

3.1.6 A History of Resistance

3.1.7 Strong Women Then and Now

3.1.8 Knowledge and Skills of Early Settlers

3.2 History and Meanings of Community

CHAPTER FOUR - Changing Meanings of Community: The Church

4.0 Introduction

4.1 The Church and Meanings of Community

4.2 The Roman Catholic Church in Community History

4.3 The Roman Catholic Church and Emergent Consciousness

4.3.1 Priests and Power

4.3.2 Holy Powers

4.3.3 The Nuns and Power

4.3.4 The Church and Other Ruling Groups

4.4 The Church and Meanings of Community Today

4.5 Lines of Fault and Political Awareness

CHAPTER FIVE - Changing Meanings of Community: The Fishery

5.0 Introduction

5.1 Mapping the Influences of Fish Merchants

5.1.1 Oppression and Resistance: Contributions to Meanings of Community

5.1.2 Gender Difference and Meanings of Community

5.1.3 Economic Crisis and Community

5.1.4 Confederation with Canada: Struggle for Control of the Fisheries

5.2 Coping with Loss and Disaster in the Fishery

5.3 Conclusion

PART III

CHAPTER SIX - The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy as Ideology: A Textual Analysis of TAGS Documents

6.0 Introduction

6.1 Government Response to the Cod Moratorium: Leading up to TAGS

6.2 Unravelling TAGS Policies

6.2.1 The Cod Crisis as a Labour Market Crisis

6.2.2 Male-Centred Assumptions in TAGS Programs

6.2.3 Labour Adjustment Programs: Resettlement by Another Name

6.3 Post-TAGS

6.4 Conclusion

CHAPTER SEVEN - Everyday Life Under TAGS: Charting Lines of Fault

7.0 Introduction

7.1 A Teenager’s Experience of Ruptures in Everyday Life

7.2 One Woman’s Experience of Ruptures in Everyday Life

7.3 One Man’s Experience of TAGS in Everyday Life

7.4 Lines of Fault

7.4.1 TAGS Ideology of Individualism

7.4.2 TAGS and the Social Regulation and Oppression of Women and Men

7.4.3 TAGS Neglect of Social Relations and Informal Support Systems

7.5 Lines of Fault and Resistance

7.6 Conclusion

CHAPTER EIGHT - Conclusions

8.0 Introduction

8.1 Unravelling Meanings in Scholarly Literature

8.2 Community as Belonging and Connections

8.3 TAGS and Meanings of Community

8.4 Implications for Research and Policy Development

Research Objectives and Themes

The primary objective of this work is to explore the social construction of "community" meanings in a Newfoundland fishing village (referred to as Comorra) following the 1992 cod fishery collapse. The research seeks to identify the disconnect between these lived experiences of community members and the government's official definitions found in The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy (TAGS) documents, while investigating how these discrepancies form ideological "lines of fault" that marginalize local perspectives.

• Meanings of community in everyday life vs. official government policy
• Feminist framework application to local history and resilience
• The role of ruling groups (Church, State, Merchants) in shaping community identity
• Analysis of TAGS as an ideological tool that prioritizes individualism over collective support
• The social and gendered impact of economic crises on small fishing communities

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Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER ONE - Unraveling Meanings of Community: This chapter introduces the research context, focusing on the impact of the 1992 cod moratorium on Comorra and the author's methodological approach to unravelling community meanings.

CHAPTER TWO - Towards a Definition of Community Within a Feminist Framework: This chapter explores theoretical definitions of community and outlines the feminist, social-constructivist framework used to analyze the research findings.

CHAPTER THREE - Resilience and Resistance: Early Settlement by Europeans: This chapter examines the early historical foundations of Comorra, emphasizing how past experiences of oppression and resistance shape current community identity.

CHAPTER FOUR - Changing Meanings of Community: The Church: This chapter analyzes the shifting role of the Catholic Church in the community and how recent clergy scandals have contributed to new political awareness and lines of fault.

CHAPTER FIVE - Changing Meanings of Community: The Fishery: This chapter investigates how historical merchant dominance and the fishery's management have influenced community cohesion, economic struggles, and the current perceptions of loss.

CHAPTER SIX - The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy as Ideology: A Textual Analysis of TAGS Documents: This chapter provides a critical analysis of government policy documents to uncover the individualistic and male-centred ideologies embedded in TAGS.

CHAPTER SEVEN - Everyday Life Under TAGS: Charting Lines of Fault: This chapter details the personal impacts of TAGS on residents, highlighting the tension between state-mandated individual adjustment and the community's collective need for support.

CHAPTER EIGHT - Conclusions: This chapter synthesizes the research, discussing the broader implications of the findings for future community research, policy development, and the importance of recognizing the agency of local populations.

Keywords

Community, Newfoundland, Fisheries, TAGS, Social Construction, Feminist Theory, Dorothy Smith, Cod Moratorium, Ruling Relations, Ideology, Lived Experience, Individualism, Resistance, Resilience, Policy Development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The book investigates the varied meanings of "community" as understood by residents of a specific Newfoundland fishing village, Comorra, specifically in the aftermath of the 1992 northern cod fishery collapse and the subsequent government intervention, TAGS.

What are the primary thematic areas covered?

The research covers the historical roots of community, the role of institutional powers like the Church and fish merchants, the impact of federal fisheries policy (TAGS), gendered labor roles, and the social construction of resilience and resistance.

What is the central research question?

The research asks how meanings of community are constructed in everyday life, how these meanings contrast with the "official" definitions held by government institutions, and how these disjunctures create ideological "lines of fault."

Which methodology does the author employ?

The author utilizes a qualitative, feminist, and reflexive methodology based on the work of Dorothy Smith, combining participant observation, in-depth interviews, and a critical textual analysis of government policy documents.

What is addressed in the main part of the book?

The main part of the book explores the historical evolution of the community, the influence of the Church and merchants, the ideological analysis of TAGS policy, and personal profiles documenting the lived experience of residents under the moratorium.

Which keywords characterize this work?

Key terms include Newfoundland, community, cod moratorium, TAGS, social construction, ruling relations, lived experience, and resistance.

How does the author define a "line of fault" in this context?

A "line of fault" refers to the disjuncture between the actual lived experiences of local people and the objectified, "neutral" knowledge produced by government and bureaucratic institutions to administer these communities.

What is the significance of the title "Living on the Other Side of Nowhere"?

The title is a direct quote from a research participant, reflecting the profound sense of loss, disorientation, and uncertainty experienced by community members regarding their future following the collapse of the fishing industry.