Vollversion (6.59 MB) - Forschungsjournal Soziale Bewegungen

FORSCHUNGSJOURNAL NSB, JG. 9, HEFT 4, 1996
Richard Saage, Utopia and environment - The ecology problem as an object of
utopian anticipation, FJ NSB 4/1996, pp. 10-14
In his essay, Richard Saage deals with the question whether there is a need for utopian concepts
in our time. After the decline of the socialist Systems, the principle of 'reality' has replaced that of
'utopia'. Saage, however, argues that the disappearance of utopian thinking applies only to those
utopian concepts that are 'closed' and do not enable learning and development. Because of the
structural problems of modern societies - from which the ecological problem is one of the most
urgent - it seems plausible that utopian thinking will remain of great importance in the future.
Dieter Rucht, The effects of environmental movements: About the difficulties of
drawing a balance, FJ NSB 4/1996, pp. 15-27
Dieter Ruchtdiscusses the effects and successes of environmental movements, which are difficult
to investigate and gauge empirically. On the one hand, the level of ecological consciousness among
the population has risen significantly, both on the level of attitudes, and within mass media
discourse. Moreover, the number of activists and sympathizers of the environmental movement is
considerable. On the other hand, the ecological behaviour of the population falls behind these
developments. Moreover, no relevant change in the pace of pollution and destruction of the natural
environment seems detectable. Rucht tries to develop an investigation procedure that may allow
more precise Statements about the balance of effects of the environmental movement in different
countries.
Christian Lahusen, 'Interest group politics'? A cross-national comparison of the
associational acctivity of social movements organizations, FJ NSB 4/1996, pp. 28-38
One central aspect of the transformation of the environmetal movement is the institutionalization
and professionalization of its organizations. Christian Lahusen defines institutionalization as
organizational establishment within the political field, while professionalization refers to the
process of specialization and qualification of the organization's staff. This development can either
be interpreted as an internally-driven trend towards the creation and consolidation of movementown
institutions and patterns of participation, or as an adaption to the predominant patterns of
Organization and action in different political Systems. In his comparative study (Germany, France,
Great Britain, and USA), Lahusen analyzes how institutionalization and professionalization of
environmental associations affect their patterns of Strategie alignment. The results of his study
provide support for the adaption-hypothesis.
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