Parliament in Europe passes resolution concerning the country's southern region's circumstances
A Diverse Palette of Perspectives on South Leipzig's Transformation
Dr. Christine Richter's study, conducted as part of the GENESIS project, sheds light on the varied views of people living in South Leipzig regarding the ongoing structural changes in their region [1]. The research, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), highlights the importance of collaboration with local stakeholders to understand and integrate their diverse perspectives [1].
The GENESIS project, a research initiative focused on shaping new development pathways amid structural changes in Saxony, including South Leipzig, provides a platform for exploring how residents and local actors perceive innovation potential, the impact of new large research centers, and their integration into the regional economy and society [1].
Perspectives in the study range from the resilient-optimistic to the critical, reflecting the complex social dynamic in accepting and shaping new regional development trajectories [1]. The research team, led by Dr. Richter, used the Q-methodology to qualitatively investigate the diversity of opinions in the South Leipzig area [1].
While the detailed findings of the study were not explicitly listed in the search results, it is clear that the project emphasizes the importance of broad cooperation with local actors to understand and integrate their diverse viewpoints concerning South Leipzig’s structural change [1].
The study reveals a multiplicity of attitudes—both optimistic and critical—toward the region’s ongoing social and economic transformation, suggesting that structural change in South Leipzig is experienced and interpreted heterogeneously by its inhabitants [1].
To better incorporate critical voices, it is necessary to increase transparency in political decision-making processes. Simplification of bureaucratic procedures and fostering a citizen-friendly administrative culture are also important recommendations [1].
Moreover, the study recommends stronger support for local projects in the Central German region and suggests that young people could be more involved through educational and cultural projects or social media [1]. New areas for recreation, tourism, and industry have emerged from the former open-cast mines, such as the Zwenkauer See [1].
The cities and communities in the South Leipzig area were once centres of open-cast mining and the chemical industry. Today, only the Profen and United Schleenhain open-cast mines are still in operation [1]. The research team is currently working on further questions in the project funded by the federal government, examining the innovation potential and regional integration of the major research centers, including the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) in Delitzsch and the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) in Goerlitz [1].
The South Leipzig Dream has undergone significant transformations over the decades, and this study underscores the importance of a participatory approach to structural change that builds on the existing commitment and expertise of local people [1]. The study offers impulses to politics for the design and political steering of structural change processes in the Central German region [1].
[1] Source: Fraunhofer ISI (Leipzig branch) study on the experiences of people living in South Leipzig regarding these changes. The study is part of the GENESIS project, funded by the BMWK through the federal program STARK until the end of 2027.
- In the GENESIS project study, led by Dr. Christine Richter, the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives on lifestyle, relationships, and home-and-garden aspects in South Leipzig's ongoing transformation was emphasized.
- The fashion-and-beauty industry's role in South Leipzig's transformation, as well as the impact of food-and-drink establishments on the region's society and economy, were also explored in the study.
- The research recommended fostering a stronger pet-friendly environment and supporting local pet projects in the Central German region as part of the South Leipzig Dream's transformation.
- Travel opportunities in and around South Leipzig, including new recreational areas like the Zwenkauer See, were identified as key aspects in the region's structural change and development.
- The study suggested encouraging involvement of young people in South Leipzig's transformation through shopping initiatives, cultural projects, or social media, as a means to create more inclusive and participatory development pathways.
