Consumer Policy from Below

For a long time, consumer policy in Germany presented itself as a network of actions, organisations and strategies that was particularly close to the state, i.e. oriented towards it. For the most part, corresponding mandates were issued by the state or with state approval and support, funding models were set up and laws were enacted, which could give the impression that there was essentially only a 'consumer policy from above' imposed by macropolitics. In recent years, however, this asymmetry has shifted permanently in favour of civil society, keyword 'political consumption', and meanwhile there are so many actions, initiatives and organisations that one can probably speak of a steadily growing 'consumer policy from below'. This anthology traces these changes to some extent. The content - The responsible consumer as a discontinued model? - Political consumption and political participation - Responsibility and accountabilities - The cultural-moral dimension of consumption - Actors, activists, initiatives, organisations and associations The editors Apl. Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Hellmann teaches consumer and economic sociology at the Institute of Sociology at the Technical University of Berlin. PD Dr. Ansgar Klein is Managing Director of the Federal Network for Civic Engagement (BBE). Bernward Baule worked at the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection with a focus on consumer research/consumer education and is a freelance author. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.