This book provides two case studies that demonstrate the use of systems analysis to forecast the often far-reaching consequences of government policies and economic development for the social relations and cultural values of different communities. The case studies examine the potential effects of oil development in two rural Alaskan communities, comparing the impact of proposed oil-related activities with projected changes in the sociocultural and socioeconomic aspects of these communities under other sets of assumptions, such as the development of a local groundfish industry. Each case study...