Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.51.2.7
Rural Society Experience. Message for Modern Society
Ivan Cifrić
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to point to some aspects of life in rural society which
can have positive effects on modern society and economy.
The author believes that industrial (modern) society is in a socio-ecological crisis,
persistently trying to find the way out and failing to do so. Instead it is gradually
sinking deeper. Socio-ecological crisis is a long-term, permanent crisis of modern
society (it is a new “natural state of society“), which has negative effects on the natural
and cultural environment, that is, on other pre-modern societies (rural societies). It
reduces the number of options and limits global prospects of development. Modern
society “suffers“ from the wrong socio-ecological metabolism syndrome which is
appropriate for liberal capitalism. The question is: can this society reach for some
rural society experience which has already been tested for sustainability? Can that
provide stimulus for finding new solutions? This author believes so.
First some rural and industrial (modern) society features are mentioned and then
three positive aspects of rural society life are identified which might encourage the
making of long-term concept of sustainable development, not only in agriculture
and rural space but in society as a whole. They are: (1) balance between man
(society) and nature, (2) double solidarity - with nature and with each other and
especially (3) understanding of rural metabolism.
Keywords
industrial society; sustainable development; environment; rural metabolism; rural society
Hrčak ID:
109624
URI
Publication date:
14.10.2013.
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