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Systems of local self-administration after agricultural transformation: experiences of a local resource management project in East Germany
Systeme lokaler Selbstverwaltung nach der landwirtschaftlichen Transformation: Erfahrungen aus einem lokalen Ressourcenmanagementprojekt in Ostdeutschland
[working paper]
Corporate Editor
Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Institut für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften des Landbaus, Fachgebiet Ressourcenökonomie
Abstract "This article raises the question of the constitution of rural society in post socialist countries, and explores the possibilities of participatory approaches in rural development and resource management in face of given social conditions in the local context. The unifying scientific 'idea' is curre... view more
"This article raises the question of the constitution of rural society in post socialist countries, and explores the possibilities of participatory approaches in rural development and resource management in face of given social conditions in the local context. The unifying scientific 'idea' is currently associated with the concept of social capital. The ability to form social capital can be seen as a central prerequisite both for economic development and the protection of resources (that is, for sustainable development). An important element of this concept is the networking of the actors within the region and with external actors. As a result of historical development the network relations in the rural areas of East Germany have a specific structure. What is especially remarkable is the continuing dominant role of the representatives of the big agricultural enterprises in the important local network structures despite the obvious decline in the economic importance of these enterprises. The structures uncovered in the case studies can certainly be taken to reflect the reality of many local contexts. It is argued that, as far as the creation of the beginnings of participation in rural development and resource management are concerned, that if the peculiarities are ignored there is a danger that the existing network structures wills simply be strengthened through participatory development. Therefore, the important contributions of participatory approaches to the solution of concrete problems must be supplemented by the prospect of its social embedding in the context of rural development. At the same time it also became clear in the project that the success of developed attempts at problem solution can only be ensured if the higher political levels are prepared to devolve downwards." (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
New Federal States; agricultural commodities market; agrarian reform; agricultural production; agrarian law; agrarian structure; participation; post-socialist country; post-communist society; agriculture; agricultural development; social network; social capital; representation; lobby; pressure group; rural development; rural area; Federal Republic of Germany
Classification
Rural Sociology
Special areas of Departmental Policy
Method
applied research; descriptive study
Document language
English
Publication Year
2002
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
13 p.
Series
CEESA Discussion Paper, 12/2002
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/10419/22294
ISSN
1616-9174
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
Data providerThis metadata entry was indexed by the Special Subject Collection Social Sciences, USB Cologne