Comparative Case Study as Social Impact Assessment: Possibilities and Limitations for Anticipating Social Change in the Far North

Social impact assessment (SIA) is increasingly an accepted component of environmental impact assessment and project evaluation throughout North America. Tools and methodologies utilized to conduct such assessments vary greatly and continue to evolve with time and experience. This paper follows the evolution of case study methods in social impact assessment, focusing primarily on the comparative diachronic method. Exploring the utility of this method, this paper compares the potential social and economic impacts of the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) in the community of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, with the known social and economic impacts of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) in the community of Valdez, Alaska. Through such comparison, insights into potential impacts from the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project are assessed while also drawing attention to, and discussing, the specific strengths and weaknesses of a comparative case study approach to social impact assessment.

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