Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os aspectos culturais de uma ecovila: seu cotidiano, suas práticas, as relações que seus membros estabelecem entre si e com a natureza, seus projetos e conflitos. A pesquisa de campo compreendeu observações e entrevistas em uma ecovila específica, desenvolvendo-se com base nos conceitos de olhar, de Simone Weil e Walter Benjamin; da simpatia, de Ecléa Bosi e Henri Bergson e da alternância entre sujeito e objeto, de Paulo de Salles Oliveira. Este trabalho buscou apresentar, também, conceitos como comunidade, de Martin Buber; cultura, de Alfredo Bosi e James Jasper; e resistência, de Ernesto Sabato. Partindo de um olhar crítico sobre a cultura da sociedade de consumo (Richard Sennett), a ecovila foi entendida, então, como criadora de uma cultura alternativa: afirmando-se como resistência a determinadas práticas e valores da cultura dominante e, ao mesmo tempo, propondo novas possibilidades de vida, trabalho, lazer e relacionamentos. Este estudo procurou, ao final, aprofundar a reflexão sobre aquelas dimensões da vida em ecovila que apontam para uma construção cultural de resistência e proposição alternativa, bem como sobre as dimensões que apresentam desafios para a mudança cultural. Oferece questionamentos sobre algumas de suas práticas e assinala possíveis caminhos para a superação dos desafios percebidos / This research aimed at investigating the cultural aspects of an ecovillage: its routine activities, practices, the relationship its members establish among themselves and with nature, their projects and conflicts. The field research included observations and interviews in a specific ecovillage, and was based on the concepts of gaze, from Simone Weil and Walter Benjamin; of sympathy, from Ecléa Bosi and Henri Bergson and of alternation between subject and object, from Paulo de Salles Oliveira. This study also presented concepts like community, from Martin Buber; culture, from Alfredo Bosi and James Jasper; and resistance, from Ernesto Sabato. Starting from a critical analysis of the culture of the consumer society (Richard Sennett), the ecovillage was then understood as a creator of an alternative culture: affirming itself as resistance to certain values and practices of the dominant culture, and, at the same time, proposing new possibilities of life, work, leisure, and relationships. At the end, this study attempted to deepen the reflection about those dimensions of life in ecovillage that point to a cultural construction of resistance and alternative proposition, as well as about the dimensions that present challenges to cultural change. It questions some of their practices and indicates possible ways to overcome the perceived challenges

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os aspectos culturais de uma ecovila: seu cotidiano, suas práticas, as relações que seus membros estabelecem entre si e com a natureza, seus projetos e conflitos. A pesquisa de campo compreendeu observações e entrevistas em uma ecovila específica, desenvolvendo-se com base nos conceitos de olhar, de Simone Weil e Walter Benjamin; da simpatia, de Ecléa Bosi e Henri Bergson e da alternância entre sujeito e objeto, de Paulo de Salles Oliveira. Este trabalho buscou apresentar, também, conceitos como comunidade, de Martin Buber; cultura, de Alfredo Bosi e James Jasper; e resistência, de Ernesto Sabato. Partindo de um olhar crítico sobre a cultura da sociedade de consumo (Richard Sennett), a ecovila foi entendida, então, como criadora de uma cultura alternativa: afirmando-se como resistência a determinadas práticas e valores da cultura dominante e, ao mesmo tempo, propondo novas possibilidades de vida, trabalho, lazer e relacionamentos. Este estudo procurou, ao final, aprofundar a reflexão sobre aquelas dimensões da vida em ecovila que apontam para uma construção cultural de resistência e proposição alternativa, bem como sobre as dimensões que apresentam desafios para a mudança cultural. Oferece questionamentos sobre algumas de suas práticas e assinala possíveis caminhos para a superação dos desafios percebidos / This research aimed at investigating the cultural aspects of an ecovillage: its routine activities, practices, the relationship its members establish among themselves and with nature, their projects and conflicts. The field research included observations and interviews in a specific ecovillage, and was based on the concepts of gaze, from Simone Weil and Walter Benjamin; of sympathy, from Ecléa Bosi and Henri Bergson and of alternation between subject and object, from Paulo de Salles Oliveira. This study also presented concepts like community, from Martin Buber; culture, from Alfredo Bosi and James Jasper; and resistance, from Ernesto Sabato. Starting from a critical analysis of the culture of the consumer society (Richard Sennett), the ecovillage was then understood as a creator of an alternative culture: affirming itself as resistance to certain values and practices of the dominant culture, and, at the same time, proposing new possibilities of life, work, leisure, and relationships. At the end, this study attempted to deepen the reflection about those dimensions of life in ecovillage that point to a cultural construction of resistance and alternative proposition, as well as about the dimensions that present challenges to cultural change. It questions some of their practices and indicates possible ways to overcome the perceived challenges

Environmental and green politics came into prominance during the last two decades. These two concepts, as well as environmentalism and ecologism are defined in this study and placed within the context of the political system. The emphasis is on green politics and ecologism. The global green movement is analysed according to policy, organisational structures and pattern of development. The South African environmental and green movements are described in the latter part of the study. It is shown that South Africa has a long history of environmentalism. The South African green movement is compared with the global green movement after which it is placed within the context of the South African political system. Green politics in South Africa seems to resemble the early stages of the development of the European movement and the concept of social justice is emphasised. Selected Western Cape groups are discussed according to information gathered by means of a questionnaire. / Political Science / M.A. (Political Science)

Environmental and green politics came into prominance during the last two decades. These two concepts, as well as environmentalism and ecologism are defined in this study and placed within the context of the political system. The emphasis is on green politics and ecologism. The global green movement is analysed according to policy, organisational structures and pattern of development. The South African environmental and green movements are described in the latter part of the study. It is shown that South Africa has a long history of environmentalism. The South African green movement is compared with the global green movement after which it is placed within the context of the South African political system. Green politics in South Africa seems to resemble the early stages of the development of the European movement and the concept of social justice is emphasised. Selected Western Cape groups are discussed according to information gathered by means of a questionnaire. / Political Science / M.A. (Political Science)