Politische Ernährung. Mobilisierung, Konsumverhalten und Motive von Teilnehmer*innen der Wir haben es satt! Demonstration 2020

The large-scale protest Wir haben es satt! (We‘re fed up!), organized by the Meine
Landwirtschaft (My Agriculture) coalition, has been held for ten years to mark
the start of the Green Week agricultural fair in Berlin. The coalition advocates for
sustainable agriculture and fair food production and supports farmers throughout Germany. On January 18, 2020, researchers from Freie Universität Berlin, in
cooperation with the Institute für Protest- und Bewegungsforschung, conducted a comprehensive survey of participants in the Wir haben es satt! protest. The
resulting data shed light on who the protesters are, their concerns and political
attitudes, and, last but not least, how they support a diff erent kind of agriculture
through their own consumption and lifestyle choices. A large proportion of respondents identifi ed themselves as female and classifi ed themselves politically as left
of center. The majority of respondents were representative of an older demographic. As with many protests in Germany, respondents represent a specifi c socio-economic segment of the population: two-thirds reported having a university degree
and most reported a medium to high income. Above all, the protestors surveyed
reported consistent political engagement. Many stated they were members of political organizations, experienced demonstrators, and familiar with the socio-political issues related to climate and environmental policy. In fact, less than two
percent reported Wir Haben es satt! being their fi rst protest. The respondents are
mainly consumers. Very few respondents produce food for commercial purposes.
This specifi c social group can be described as food conscious. They make ethical
consumer decisions and have a great interest in expressing their own concerns.
Here is to note, that it was not possible to survey the tractor convey attached to
the protest by foot.