Dealing with Deindustrialization Adaptive Resilience in American Midwestern Regions

The late 1970s and 1980s saw a process of massfactory closuresin cities and regions across the Midwest of the United States. What happened nextas leaders reacted to the news of each plant closure and to the broader deindustrialization trend that emerged during this time period is the main subject of this book. It showshow leaders in eight metropolitan areas facing deindustrialization strived for adaptive resilience by using economic development policy. The unique attributes of each region - asset bases, modes of governance, civic capacity, leadership qualities, and external factors - influenced theresponses employed and the outcomes achieved. Using adaptive resilience as a lens,Margaret Cowellprovides a thorough understanding of how and why regions varied in their abilities to respond to deindustrialization.

Introduction, 1. Deindustrialization and its Discontents, 2. A Glimmer of Resilience, 3. Enter the Economic Developers, 4. Eight Regions Changing, 5. The ‘Basic Betters’ – Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Buffalo, 6. ‘Bowing Out’ – Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Columbus, 7. Conclusion: The Art of Adaptive Resilience

Margaret Cowell isAssistant Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech.