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This paper examines the cultural impact of increased globalization on Western North Carolina. Particular attention is paid to the eighteen western-most counties of the state. Among the primary issues that are addressed in the paper are the following: the impact of job losses within traditional industries in the mountain counties since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement on January 1, 1994; and the prospects for and status of newly-emerging industries within the region — particular attention is paid in this regard to the special challenges Western North Carolina faces in light of its geographic features, the extensiveness of publicly owned lands within the region, and its location relative to urban centers within the state and surrounding areas. In addition, the impact of demographic changes are also explored in depth, particularly the following issues: changes within the region resulting from job losses and the resulting exodus of natives in search of employment outside the region; the influx of newcomers to the area, given the region's increasing status as a retirement haven; and the expanding Hispanic population within the region. The influence of each of these changes on the erosion of the traditional mountain culture is explored in depth. Attention is also devoted to the variety of efforts currently being undertaken to preserve that traditional culture.

Stream: Cultural Sustainability

Paper: Challenge of Preserving Appalachian Culture in the Age of Globalization, The