Self-organisation of Consumers as a Sociological Utopia of Consumption

A self-organization of consumer interests “from below”, that is, through participatory engagement of consumer citizens, would best fulfill democratic standards such as legitimation and self-financing through membership fees. This article explores the real and utopian dimensions of this ideal-typical form of participation. A historical example is the founding of the Working Group of Consumer Associations AgV (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Verbraucherverbände) in 1953, where opportunities and risks of representing their interests through the market power of consumers or through large associations such as trade unions, housewives’ associations, or through their own special-purpose association were also discussed. The dependence of subsidized consumer organizations on the government is illustrated in the context of the AgV structural reform from 1995 to 2001 and culminates in the question of whether public welfare-oriented politics can act as selfless allies of organized consumer interests.