شهرهای کوچک و روستاها در باواریا: گذر از یک شیوه زندگی

At the center of this investigation is the great modernization effort of a West German state, Bavaria, in the 1970s and 1980s, by means of a reform of the smaller units of local government. The reforms were meant to abolish all autonomous local governments serving populations of fewer than 3,000, thereby reducing the number of local governments in Bavaria from more than 7,000 to less than 2,000. Based on interviews, surveys, and statistical research, this study chronicles fifteen communities and their challenges, developments, and social changes from post-1945 up to the present. While this book explores the decline of the iconic village community, it also reveals the survival of medieval towns in a contemporary world, and despite the modern desire for comprehensive and well-integrated services, there remains a seemingly perennial appeal of small town and village life. A memorable sight for the tourist traveling through Bavaria is the plethora of solar panels on the iconic red roofs of the houses in the towns and villages. To the outsider this may be singular evidence for the modernization of that provincial state. This study contains a vast array of data to show the decline of smaller governmental units that have given way to more regional clusters of control and the modernization of many aspects of political and economic life. Indeed, the statistics show that Bavaria has become governed officially by larger territorial units (some 7,000 administrative units in 1945 now number about 2,000), yet another question remains: how much change is there in the character of the people and their social customs? For those interested in this more bucolic Southern part of Germany, this book is not just a set of comprehensive statistical data, but a charming and provocative survey of the region, which remains a vestige of a medieval society that has truly not yet lost its ancient character. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) At the center of this investigation is the great modernization effort of a West German state, Bavaria, in the 1970s and 1980s, by means of a reform of the smaller units of local government. The reforms were meant to abolish all autonomous local governments serving populations of fewer than 3,000, thereby reducing the number of local governments in Bavaria from more than 7,000 to less than 2,000. Based on interviews, surveys, and statistical research, this study chronicles fifteen communties and their challenges, developments, and social changes from post-1945 up to the present. While this book explores the decline of the iconic village community, it also reveals the survival of medieval towns in a contemporary world, and despite the modern desire for comprehensive and well-integrated services, there remains a seemingly perennial appeal if small town and villiage life.--Back cover. CONTENTS FIGURES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 CHANGING VILLAGES AND SMALL PLACES IN BAVARIA Chapter 2 THE SMALL-TOWN OR VILLAGE COMMUNITY Chapter 3 PLANNING LOCAL TERRITORIAL REFORM Chapter 4 THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFORM Chapter 5 NO TOWN IS AN ISLAND Chapter 6 CONCLUSION Appendix TABLES SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY AND GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS INDEX