Zukunftsvision oder Vermarktungsstrategie? Eine kulturwissenschaftliche Betrachtung des Cittaslow-Konzepts

The present work contains a critique of the self-understanding of the ideology and organization of the Cittaslow association. Three realpolitical developments form the background for the organization´s concept: the advance of globalization with the inherent tendency for the leveling of regional differences, the structural change in industry, leading to peripheralization and marginalization of small-and medium-sized cities and finally the demographic change, inducing an aging population and the loss of population, espescially affecting rural regions. The Cittaslow concept wants to oppose this devaluation and marginalization against the special quality of life which is attributed to small-towns: slowness, depth, quality, environmental friendliness, etc. At first glance, this seems progressive, ecologically and innovative, on second glance, the question arises whether this concept inherits the force to solve urban problems and if that is the goal at all or whether it simply is a marketing strategy.