Social cohesion in a community divided by a wind farm project

摘要

Through a case study in Québec (Canada), this paper focuses on the changes induced to the social structure of a community by a conflict related to a wind farm. Data were gathered through interviews and sociometric questionnaires with 93 people involved in the public hearings process. The conflict brought about the deterioration of 3 relationships per participant on average, including the deterioration of strong ties. Participants had on average 14.5 reciprocal relationships before the conflict. The deteriorations are almost exclusively relationships that linked opponents and supporters, confirming the social divide. The conflict provoked a decrease in mutual help, while the wind farm was a taboo topic in a number of central places. Many new relationships were also created (on average 5 per participant) and pre-existing ones intensified. The conflict encouraged an important pursuit for social support through existing and new relationships, but also the use of various coping strategies to deal with stress.