6. Sustainable Development in the City of Tampere: Working Together with Residents

One of the main subjects in the history of sociological thought has been the structure and functions of social systems to control the relationship between individual freedom and collective objectives. Sociologists have witnessed both the growing strength of “iron cages” and the liberation of individuals from many kinds of social bonds. Environmental problems call for new ways to build up accord between individual preferences and collective outcomes. The concept of “sustainable development” has been offered for citizens as a moral claim to cut down their options to choose. This chapter studies the acceptance of this offer in Tampere, Finland.