… The aim of this thesis is to use the social license lens to explore dynamics of social
license for industrial developments in rural areas, with a particular focus on social license
withdrawal. The case study for this exploration is a community response to unconventional
gas industry developments, presenting an opportunity for research into factors leading to the
granting or withdrawal of social license to operate. Three main themes woven throughout the
thesis are: 1) drivers of social positioning on industrial development; 2) social dynamics and …

Rural areas globally are subject to the converging pressures of climate change,
urbanisation, market forces and energy expansion. Large-scale industrial projects can add
to land-use competition and resource conflicts, potentially leading to dramatic impact on
rural environments and their communities. Social licence can be used as a lens for
understanding how communities respond to proposed industrial developments. A
disconnect between the social license concept and the aims of sustainable development …