Promoting Vitality and Sustainable Development on Åstol Island: Insights from Local Perspectives

This study explores the challenges and opportunities of promoting sustainable development on Åstol, a small island on Sweden’s west coast, through a participatory and place-based research approach. Åstol represents the complex dynamics of peripheral island settings, marked by spatial limitations, seasonal economies, demographic shifts, and strong civic traditions. The aim is to investigate how different groups, full-time residents, part-time inhabitants, and visitors, perceive sustainability and envision the island’s future. Drawing on qualitative data from 64 participants, including in-depth interviews and open-ended questionnaires, the study analyzes experiences across themes such as identity, social capital, access to services, and civic engagement. The methodological framework integrates phenomenographic and thematic analysis, emphasizing both variation and convergence in local perspectives. Findings reveal that Åstol’s sustainability is closely tied to its cultural heritage, tranquility, and social cohesion. While participants express pride in the island’s strong social cohesion and environmental values, concerns about rising housing costs, a declining year-round population, and fragile service infrastructure are widespread. The study highlights the importance of voluntary engagement, affordable housing, digital connectivity, and inter-island collaboration in securing Åstol’s long-term viability. By foregrounding lived experiences and locally grounded knowledge, this research contributes to broader discussions on islandness, rural resilience, and place-based sustainability. It underscores the relevance of perception-based methods for planning and policy, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) to make all settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.