New Forms of Communication in Regional Development Planning Illustrated with an Example of Masterplanprozess “Mensch und Land”

The publication edited by Luzt Laschewski and Widar Wendt constitutes a summary of the project implemented in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, named Masterplanprozess “Mensch und Land”, which concerns working out a concept for this region’s development based on the most extensive public consultations possible. Let’s start the review of Die Zukunft der Landwirtschaft als dialogisches Verfahren by mentioning several facts from the history of Germany. The publication, though its conclusions could also be applied to other areas of Germany and Europe, refers to a specific Land, namely Mecklenburg– Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg–Vorpommern1). For many years now, this region has been a kind of laboratory of social change, willingly observed and analysed by, among others, social researchers2. Before German reunification, it fell within the German Democratic Republic. After the reunification, five Lands were established in the area of ex-GDR, including Mecklenburg–