Eco-Discourses in a Virtual Rural Community

Rozália Klára Bakó, László Attila Hubbes and Dénes Tamás
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Rozália Klára Bakó: Department of Social Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania Cluj-Napoca, 530104 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
László Attila Hubbes: Department of Social Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania Cluj-Napoca, 530104 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
Dénes Tamás: Department of Social Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania Cluj-Napoca, 530104 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: This case study explores social media discourses of a virtual ecovillage community based in Central Romania, in a Hungarian speaking region of Transylvania. The investigated virtual community embraces the idea of ecovillage as a local constructive answer to the challenges of the global ecological crisis, based on strategies of revitalizing local ethnic traditions, promoting sustainable development solutions, and innovations. Our key question is the relationship between tradition and innovation—as revealed by the discursive practices of the ecovillage Facebook group’s most active members. Using ecolinguistic discourse analysis as a frame of reference, the investigation unveiled the role social media played in fostering the formation of a virtual intentional community, and in clarifying the shared values of the group. We found that the local ecovillage is part of a larger regional and global movement, unfolding the organic connection between the Hungarian and the Romanian intentional communities, and the reframing of traditional values within innovative, sustainable everyday practices.

Keywords: ecovillage movement; eco-discourses; Hungarian-Szekler ethnic traditions; innovation; intentional community; social media; Romania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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