Weltagrarwirtschaft versus Agrarkulturen: Zu den komparativen Nachteilen der Entwicklungsländer im Welthandel

Abstract Today, world agriculture must be regarded as part of a fast-growing world development system. This system is promoted by nearly all branches of the social and natural sciences (and the largely unquestioned assumptions on which they are based). Cultural identities cannot stand up to this international development process and doubtful progress. Therefore, it is no wonder that rural cultures - rooted in and justified by local circumstances only - are disappearing all over the world. After some decades of systematic installation of 'development' on all levels and spheres of societies, it becomes more and more obvious that this industrializing, urbanizing and scientifically backed process is highly disadvantageous for the majority of mankind. Especially the so-called Third World is at the losing end of this international trend. Therefore, the author is in favour of backing and revitalizing rural cultures - the opposite of world agriculture. This old alternative demands a radical rethinking of all sciences and dramatic action by politicians. Amongst other things, the respect for and recognition of commonality (the opposite of individual expectation) under local circumstances could be re-discovered as the backbone of rural cultures.