ABSTRACT
Resilience has emerged as a dynamic community-development concept that is examined here in light of the new digital economy. Resilience is rooted in the ability to remain productive after a dramatic event, like the largest recorded flood in 2011 in Manitoba, Canada affecting much of southern Manitoba. This chapter explores how resilience as a concept might fare with more persistent and vigorous economic and social challenges, rather than a natural disaster. Key characteristics of resilience form an analytic framework to two critical and contemporary economic drivers in rural communities, namely innovation and broadband. Comparisons between case studies and among nation states and their respective policies illustrate commonalities and differences in Canada, Europe, and the United States. Each example adds to this analysis of resilience, which is focused on the needs of communities.
