We live in a world of constant and dynamic change. Change manifests in various guises ranging from small to big, local to global, individual to societal, or from subtle to sudden. It often comes out of the unexpected, yet people can also actively bring about change. Change can be for the better, but often reality means change for the worse. Preconditions for a contented and happy life, both material and intangible, are constantly challenged. Living conditions of individuals as well as communities are affected by inequality, exclusion, or poverty. Different kinds of challenge and change require different reactions. This volume results from a two-day conference in November 2011 in Salzburg, Austria, bringing together researchers and practitioners from different scientific disciplines in order to discuss approaches of poverty research, social inclusion strategies, and local knowledge applications with particular focus on transformation. The contributions shed light on appropriate theories, methodologies, and concrete applications of change concepts referring to poverty, place and identity at different temporal, social, and spatial scales. They address a readership ranging from social and political scientists, economists and statisticians, to philosophers, cultural scientists and geographers.
About the Author: Elisabeth Kapferer is Research Fellow at the Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research at the University of Salzburg, with focus on culture and poverty alleviation. Her research interests include local knowledge, cultural memory studies and poverty/social exclusion, and representations of poverty and social exclusion. Andreas Koch is Professor of Social Geography at the University of Salzburg, Vice President of the International Research Centre for Ethical and Social Issues and Vice Chairman of the Centre for Ethic and Poverty Research in Salzburg. His research background is in spatial poverty research, geographic information science, and geosimulation modelling. Clemens Sedmak is a philosopher and theologian. He holds the F. D. Maurice Chair at King's College London and the Franz Martin Schmolz OP Visiting Professorship for Social Ethics at the University of Salzburg. He is Head of the Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research at the University of Salzburg and President of the International Research Centre for Social and Ethical Questions (ifz Salzburg). His research interests include poverty research, social ethics, epistemology, and philosophy of science.