engleski

Socio-Ecological Metabolism of Rural Society

It is shown the difference between ecological (natural) metabolism and socio-ecological (mediated by the society) metabolism. There are also differentiates between rural socio-ecological metabolism (metabolism of a peasants society, countryside society) and urban socio-ecological metabolism (industrial metabolism). Rural metabolism differs from urban, and as a "closed" cycle of the circulation of materials between nature and humans, the cultural and its closer to natural metabolism mediate it. Rural metabolism can empirically both, a complex perception of rural development and a sustainable balance of the social and ecological system on the local level. At the same time, it can paradigmatically inspire re-thinking of the "ecological complex" in the contemporary discourse on sustainable development not only both in rural areas and on the global level. In this discourse important are not only ecological, but also socio-ecological and anthropological aspects. Rural socio-ecological metabolism has conceived as a set of socially motivated physical processes in which the natural resources - by means of human work and energy - are being transformed into products, services and organic waste that goes back into the nature. Rituals and culture production are accompanying this process. It need to be pointed out the fact that during the last few centuries - both in theoretical thinking on development and in practice - the nature has been reduced to a material precondition of development, while the relationship between man and nature has increasingly been mediated by the scientific and technological complex. Only with the globalization of the ecological crisis attempts were made to find out possible applications of the concept of sustainability (and diversity). This concept is especially important in discussions on the development of settlements and protection of ecological system in Croatia as a transition country. Rural metabolism point out that the stability of the relation between a social system and an environmental system is possible ; that socio-ecological metabolism is "extended metabolism" ; and that is a mediated by type of a society ; that knowledge on functioning of the whole of the system is important, not on its parts ; that environmental complex should be sustained as stable ; in order to sustain stability and diversity of environmental system of cultures.

ecological metabolism; socio-ecological metabolism; rural metabolism

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