Transformative communities as alternative forms of life? Conceptual reflections and empirical findings (co-housing in Switzerland)

In the course of a re-politicization throughout Europe and North America, more and more community- based housing projects (co-housing etc.) have emerged since the 1990s that seek to formulate a response to the multiple crises in our western-postindustrial societies. In Switzerland, these projects have been conceived and known as alternative cooperatives (“Genossenschaften”), who are experimenting with a collaborative orientation and shared practices in the organizational structure, in the planning and the creation of the projects, and finally in everyday life. After a brief problematization of the co-housing-field in Switzerland and their relevance with regard to social identity, community and authenticity, the article deals with the necessity of a “critique of forms of life.” A key position for the argument is provided by the next chapter, which concerns the question of social innovations and a specially developed “praxeological understanding of innovation.” The findings obtained there flow directly into the fourth part, which bears the heading “The Practice of Cooperative Housing Forms seen from an Innovation-Theoretical Perspective.” A summary provides a tabular representation that differentiates the “praxeological understanding of innovation” according to dimensions (micro, meso and macro) and fields (spheres of action, facilitating factors and limitations). A brief conclusion ends with a consideration of the future outlook seen from a political-normative perspective.