A new socio-ecological class conflict?

The climate crisis, farmers' protests, the rise of right-wing parties, ongoing disputes in government, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East: the crisis is becoming a permanent feature of politics and society. In view of the enormous challenges, does a socio-ecological transformation even stand a chance? The BMBF junior research group "Mentalities in flux" (flumen) at Friedrich Schiller University Jena investigated this question.

The researchers at the Institute of Sociology surveyed 4,000 people across Germany to find out their views, attitudes and feelings regarding socio-ecological change. The results show that opinions differ, in some cases strikingly, on the question of whether, how quickly and in what form a socio-ecological transformation is necessary. The opinions are strongly linked to the social situation of the respondents and their respective interests. The "flumen" group interprets its findings as a new socio-ecological class conflict.

Ten mentalities in three spectrums are emerging

"In the survey, ten mentalities emerged along several conflict dimensions, which can be clustered into three mentality spectrums," says Dr Martin Fritz, who heads the "flumen" junior research group since April of this year. Each spectrum can be linked to specific positions in social space, Dr Fritz continues.

Specifically, the researchers identify an eco-social spectrum that calls for swift and decisive transformation and is predominantly concentrated in education-based middle and higher social positions. In contrast, the conservative, growth-oriented spectrum, which is more likely to be found in property-based social positions, defends the familiar, growth-focussed way of life and economy. The third spectrum predominates in disadvantaged social positions and is described as defensive-reactive; it is characterized by resignation and withdrawal and even angry resistance to "green" and transformative initiatives.