Bioregionalism

As bioregionalism a socio-economic model is called and its focus on regionalization in so-called bioregions. These bioregions are defined by physical properties such as watersheds, mountains or deserts and anthropogenic, cultural characteristics.

Conceptual history

First bioregionalism was a slogan for environmental and peace activists in North America is important. Later, the bioregionalism trailer found in the UK (such as the editor of the magazine " The Ecologist " and winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize Edward Goldsmith ) and from 1995 in the German language area, including through the Austrians Roman Schweidlenka and Eduard Gugenberger.

The term originated in the early 1970s in the United States and has its origin in the works of Alan van Newkirk, who coined the term in 1974 used, as well as by Peter Berg and Raymond Dasmann. He was originally heavily influenced by the anarchist tradition of San Francisco.

Alan van Newkirk meant by a bioregion an ecological habitat in which " all life, so people form plants and animals a survival assurance community." Bioregions are geographic areas that make up a certain unit or subunit in relation to natural and anthropogenic features. On natural features in particular landform, soil, climate, plant and animal world, hydrological properties such as water catchment areas are mentioned. Due flowing transitions and the number of natural parameters other features such as social systems, religions, traditions, local cultures, or the existence of indigenous peoples be consulted.

As a pioneer of bioregionalism will be considered to be partly the Diggers, who attempted at the time of Cromwell in England in the mid -17th century to reform the existing social order and flatten the vested interests. They wanted an agrarian way of life, which was accompanied by the creation of small, rural communities.

Classification

Daniel Karsch assigns the bioregionalism as a Deglobalisierungbewegung. The people within a bioregion should work sustainably and preferably with native, especially renewable resources and economies. Of particular importance are the local trade and distribution structures and politically decentralized structures, as well as organic farming and seasonal specialties marketing of agricultural products in local stores.

In 2002, Bernd Hamm and Barbara Rapid published by the University of Trier, a study entitled " bioregionalism. An Overview ". In it, the authors distinguish three currents within the bioregionalism: right are the ' Ökofaschisten ', left the ' Ökoanarchisten ' and impolitic to enter the ' eco - Agers '. Although it should be, in the opinion of Hamm / Rasche at the terms ' Ökofaschisten 'and' Ökoanarchisten ' to ' polemical fighting words, "the authors use the terms because of their frequent use in the literature, but do not add quotes. Together is to Hamm / Rasche all three directions, the " rejection of the current modernization, globalization, the state and the consumer orientation".

In the study states:

For the sociologist Ralf Dahrendorf of bioregionalism tends to relapse into patriotism. Ditfurth sees an outgoing right-wing groups of creeping occupation left structures.

Reception by the New Right

Since the mid- 1990s, access publications that belong to the New Right, the issue more on bioregionalism. According Ditfurth In the new right definition is the goal of bioregionalistischen concept, the recovery of the national identities of the peoples.

In Germany, especially the " Independent Environmentalists Germany ( UÖD ) " of the topic will accept. Instead of the German nation-state are the UÖD the German regions in the center, which in turn will form the German cultural nation in its diversity. In February 1997 the UÖD lead on the Ludwigstein their national meeting under the motto " The tender green of the home. Thoughts on bioregionalism " by.

In May 1996, the UÖD Member Leif -Thorsten Kramps founds the " Working Group bioregionalism Sauerland ". The primary objective of the current conducted by Kramps » Working Group bioregionalism Sauerland " is to make known the bioregionalism in Germany. For this, the preparation and implementation of discussion groups, lectures and seminars serves as the publication of the magazine bioregionalistischen "The Gooseberry ". In autumn 2003, the " Working Group bioregionalism Sauerland " claims to his activities a.