Lecture series 2022/23 Transformations and the urban-rural relationship (in North Hesse)

The first step is to gain an appropriate understanding of what is meant by transformation and how it can be differentiated conceptually and in terms of content from the dimensions of development, change and processes of change. What are the historical points of reference, the current challenges and current megatrends that both urban centers and peripheral regions in Germany are confronted with? To what extent do social, ecological and economic transformation processes shape and change the relationship between urban and rural areas? In order to approach these questions, the major transformation processes of our time will first be brought into the analytical focus in order to reflect on the nature of the North Hessian region with its particular strengths and weaknesses in the context of socio-ecological transformation.

The urban-rural conflict was at the beginning of modernity and was charged by urbanization and industrialization. It was defused by a variety of processes and institutions, above all by the welfare state and the people's parties, so that it no longer articulated itself in the foreground but more in the background. In recent years, it seems that urban-rural conflicts have once again become a relevant political category. What interests, narratives, actors and conflicts characterize the current urban-rural relationship? Can such conflicts be resolved and what is the price of doing so? The development of political answers to these questions is of central importance for the urban-rural relationship of the future - both at a national political level and locally in North Hesse.

The automotive industry has been the backbone of the German economy for many decades. For a long time, this model sector of German, export-oriented industry managed to seal itself off from all ecological demands and stick to the combustion engine. Those days are over - at the latest since the EU plans to only allow climate-neutral new cars from 2035. The transition from the combustion engine to electromobility poses major challenges not only for the automotive industry, but also for the state and society. The VW plant in Baunatal is an important player in northern Hesse, where this transformation process and its consequences for employees and the region can be studied.

In order to achieve the goal set out in the coalition agreement of sourcing 80% of Germany's electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, the Wind-an-Land Act aims to reserve two percent of the state's land area for wind energy. This is an ambitious target in view of the growing opposition in recent years to the construction of further wind turbines and the necessary infrastructure, including for power lines, both from directly affected residents and homeowners as well as from conservationists. So how can the energy transition be shaped between citizens' initiatives, NIMBY (not in my backyard) protests and companies in the renewable energy sector (SMA)? Is there an urban-rural divide in the energy sector, similar to that in agriculture, with production in rural areas and consumption in urban areas, and what does this mean for the relationship between urban and rural areas?

The digitalization of work seems to be an ever-accelerating process that is changing and will continue to change the world of work for all occupational groups - but what will the outcome be? How will this development affect the operational requirements for future skilled workers, the way companies work and the future viability of entire industries? Under the influence of the coronavirus pandemic, the digitalization of work has intensified further. So what will the digitalized working world of the future look like and what strategies do companies, trade unions and the state have to effectively meet the challenges of this transformation?

Digitalization is driving transformations in all areas of the economy, society and politics. Nevertheless, these are not deterministic processes. Rather, there are opportunities and necessities for shaping them. Therefore, goal-oriented political control based on a vision of the future is required. Digitalization also appears to be changing the potential for governance and the possible instruments. So to what extent can we speak of a transformation of statehood? In addition to the control dimension, the design of the performance dimension plays a decisive role for the modern state. How do the infrastructures of services of general interest and their provision change in times of multiple transformations? The question of discrepancies between urban and rural areas in particular arises not only with regard to (non-)existing digital infrastructures from the point of view of equal living conditions.

Urban centers and rural areas are confronted with the challenges of socio-ecological transformation in different ways. So what are the resulting interests of urban centers, medium-sized cities and rural regions in Germany and which actors represent these often divergent interests vis-à-vis political decision-makers at state and federal level and vis-à-vis the European Union? In this context, the way in which the urban-rural relationship will develop in the future depends largely on the extent to which the interests of urban centers and peripheral areas are taken into account in the political decision-making process.

In the digital media landscape, the supply and reception of media, the form of private and political communication and the role of media players as gatekeepers are changing. The technological possibility of reaching broad sections of the population via social media platforms and creating one's own media offerings is accompanied by new challenges in the form of hate speech, fake news, filter bubbles and echo chambers. In view of the declining circulation of many local newspapers, the diversification of the (online) offerings required to generate reach for public broadcasters and new developments in content moderation, both the media landscape and media consumption are undergoing profound changes.

The world in which people in Germany live and work is undergoing fundamental changes, primarily due to technological changes and digitalization processes. The external shock of the coronavirus pandemic acted as a catalyst in this context, further accelerating the transformations that were already taking place. In particular, the decoupling of work location and workforce, so-called mobile working, has become increasingly important. However, such developments not only have positive effects, they can also pose a threat to employees. Against this background, the question arises as to the extent to which new forms of poverty (could) arise in Germany. Are more people actually at risk of social decline? Who are the people affected, how is wealth distributed in Germany and how can we take political countermeasures - both at a national level and in North Hesse?

The central goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement is to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial age. Together with its partner states in the European Union, Germany has set itself the ambitious goal of being climate-neutral by 2050. However, the way in which this goal is to be achieved and the extent to which federal, state and municipal policies can contribute to achieving climate neutrality is the subject of controversial debate. Against this background, various political strategies must be evaluated and weighed up against each other in terms of their economic, ecological and social consequences. The example of the North Hesse region will also be used to show what contributions can be made to climate neutrality at regional level.

The transport transition is a fundamental building block for achieving the climate targets. In Germany, however, progress has so far been slow and has fallen short of expectations: C02 emissions in the transport sector have not been significantly reduced since the 1990s. Effective progress towards climate-neutral mobility has been hampered both by the resistance of the German automotive industry and the socio-cultural dominance of the automobile. So how can C02-neutral freight and passenger transport be achieved in Germany in the long term and what role will private and public transport play in this in the future? What interests are being formulated by the automotive industry, trade unions, environmental associations and social movements in the context of the transport transition and what will the future of mobility in Germany, both in cities and in rural areas, look like?

Cost problems, digitalization and demographic change are currently driving forces that are changing healthcare policy and care. Hospitals are being closed, GPs are unable to find successors and care is changing, for example through health centers. Rural areas in particular are affected by a decrease in the density of care. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in particular, the current direction of German healthcare policy has come under scrutiny. How can this be counteracted and what role can digital services such as video consultations play in the transformation of healthcare policy?