Chancen und Risiken der lokalen Agenda 21 für die kommunale Demokratie

The Agenda 21 which has already been passed on the UN-Conference for environment and development (UNCED) in Rio de Janerio in 1992, is now - seven years later - put into practice by many local authorities worldwide. A local agenda 21 requires a cooperation of the citiziens. And this at a time in that one not only complains about the ecological listlessness but also about the political sullenness of the citiziens. Is the political and cultural basis in Germany suitable of developing a new political style of participation and active cooperation? Which are the strained relations within the general framework for local actors (citizens, administration, political system)? In this work the discussion about sustainability is considered in regard to discussions and processes in political practice and in different scientific concepts. Thus, the discussions about the civil society, about communitarism, and about direct democratic instruments will be picked up. Furthermore, the competition of the "Bürgerorientierte Kommune" is investigated by the example of the nominated city of Bremen. In the focus of attention is the question how citiziens can take part in the political practice to build up a common future, which is most important for the formation of a sustainable communal democracy. The hypotheses will formulated that the Agenda 21 as a political program does not only secure the natural bases of life in a long term. It is also very important in revitalizing local democracy by equilibrating ecological, economical, and social requirements. Modified institutional structures are required for this, in order to allow the participation processes within the framework of the Agenda 21 to become a new style in politics, which would be an important multi-local contribution for the sustainable development of our planet