Volume 75 (2017): Edizione 6 (December 2017)

For several years now, volunteer activity has been increasingly placed at the center of a political discourse monopolizing it for politics of dealing with socio- and spatiopolitical problems. It is particularly in those rural regions affected by out-migration and an ageing population that volunteering is considered an advisable way for securing local public responsibilities. Based on a critical reflection and discussion of these political positions we plead for a subject-oriented research approach in order to understand regionally problematised conditions not primarily as static parameters, but as individually negotiated aspects of everyday life. Accordingly, voluntary activity is investigated in terms of individually perceived challenges and underlying logics of action as a social practice of collaboratively organising everyday life in a shrinking rural region. Hence, using a case study conducted in the Altenburger Land in Thuringia we analyse the socially embedded negotiation of responsibilities between municipal actors and voluntary workers on the one hand and trace the influencing factors on voluntary activities considered relevant by involved actors on the other hand. Those factors include institutional and political support, municipality reforms, regional education and working conditions in the light of a problematic regional labour market, for example. Building on the results of our empirical research we finally discuss the political and analytical-conceptual implications resulting from the notion of a homogeneous community of voluntary workers and their political-strategic invocation and activation.

In Germany’s territorial planning community, the relation of demographic change, the provision of public services and civic engagement is mainly sketched out as a substitution logic, in which volunteer work substitutes for employed work of state agencies in the provision of public services. The aim of this paper is a critical assessment of this substitution logic. The central question is: how realistic is this fictional model of substitution in the light of current patterns of demographic change in Germany? Methodologically the paper draws on a literature review, which is, first, used to outline definitions and empirical evidence regarding civic engagement in Germany, and second, to present in detail and critically reflect the main discourse in German territorial planning regarding the relation of public services and demographic change. The central result is the description of three dilemmas (geographic, political and motivational dilemma), that hinder a realistic implementation of substitution. As a consequence, suggestions are made for a better conceptualization of the relation of public service provision and civic engagement in the light of demographic change. It is argued that civic engagement should more strongly be conceived in combination with tools for recognition, the geographic disparities of civic engagement must be considered more strongly, and state agents must reflect on and redefine their role and self-conception in relation to engaging social groups, with the aim of a more equal partnership.

Support of civic engagement and co-production aiming at the delivery of public services implies a spatial dilemma. The majority of people engaged are located in prosperous regions that further benefit from public support of civic engagement, while this is less frequent the case for structurally weak regions. The paper empirically confirms the spatial dilemma by analyzing civic initiatives engaged in delivering public services according to their location. The interdependency of engagement and public support can have negative effects for the German model of equal living conditions. However, commitment and co-production can also be stimulated in structurally weak regions. Based on in-depth case study research we discuss activation and success factors of civic initiatives. We conclude that valuation of civic engagement as part of regional development is important, since both prosperous and weak regions benefit from it. Therefore, civic engagement should be supported in weaker regions in particular.

This article highlights the societal relevance of the German Country Women’s Associations (LandFrauen) as an element of German civil society especially in rural regions. On the basis of qualitative expert interviews and secondary material, this article provides an overview of the LandFrauen as civil society organizations and as a subject of social scientific research. German Country Women’s Associations are represented throughout Germany with approximately 450,000 members in over 10,600 local associations, district associations, regional associations and a federal association. They represent, among other activities, the interests of women, are important providers of adult education and act as an organizational framework for the activities and civic engagement of their members, particularly at local community level. The article concludes that the LandFrauen contribute significantly to the local social and cultural infrastructure in rural areas. Concurrently, they are partners within coordinated regional development activities and stand in relation to the local economy. Additionally, this article presents perspectives for further scientific exploration with regard to the embedding of civic engagement into civil society organizations, geographies of engagement, regional governance and public goods. Therefore, this contribution lays the foundation for further research.

This paper discusses the added value of time banks in the sense of organized neighbourhood assistance using the example of the Styrian time bank called Zeit-Hilfs-Netz Steiermark for the quality of life of the participants and its contribution to everyday life of various population groups. The theoretical backdrop of this contribution is formed by the findings from the international discussion on the impact orientation of time banks that ascribe to them a certain importance for social inclusion, to strengthen communities and to mitigate the negative effects of economic deprivation. This paper investigates if and to what extent the findings for the Zeit-Hilfs-Netz Steiermark (founded in 2011) fit in the international results. For this purpose, data on membership, offer advertisements and on demand as well as the latest network meeting result protocol have been analysed. Additionally, the responsible staff members of the Landentwicklung Steiermark as well as the coordinators of the local time bank groups have been surveyed. The analysis of the result protocol of the latest network meeting confirms the validity of the subjective estimations of the experts. Empirical data show that women and people aged 50 to 69 years form the backbone of the Zeit-Hilfs-Netz Steiermark. Barter activities are less important than joint activities and there is no reciprocity or rather mutual exchange. Nevertheless, this time bank has positive case-by-case effects on the subjective quality of life of the (active) participants. The future existence of the Zeit-Hilfs-Netz Steiermark and its impacts on securing livelihoods is closely tied to stable basic infrastructures at the local level, professional support and a clear portfolio.