ACTAUNIVERSITATISLODZ IENSIS FOLIA SOCIOLOGICA 14

ACTAUNIVERSITATISLODZ IENSIS FOLIA SOCIOLOGICA 14

A C T A
U N I V E R S I T A T I S
FOLIA SOCIOLOGICA
L O D Z I E N S I S
14, 1987_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Paweł Starosta
THE P A R T I C I P A T I O N IN THE LIF E OF THE RU RA L LO CA L C O M M U N I T Y
In e a c h s o c i e t y the l e v e l
and d i r e c t i o n
of s o c i a l
activity
of i n d i v i d u a l s and g r o u p s is not w i t h o u t i n f l u e n c e on its
durati o n and rat e of d e v e l o p m e n t .
Thus the p r o b l e m s c o n c e r n i n g the
c o o p e r a t i o n or p a r t i c i p a t i o n of d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s in the life of
the s o c i e t y is of e s s e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e ,
b o t h c o g n i t i v e and prac-
tical .
The l a t t e r s i d e of the p r o b l e m m a n i f e s t s
itself
especially
c l e a r l y in the c o n t e x t of our c o u n t r y s p r e s e n t s i t uation. For it
is q u i t e a p p a r e n t th a t a p a t h y ,
p a s s i v e n e s s and an a t t i t u d e
of
r e l u c t a n c e of a m a j o r p a r t of the s o c i e t y do not f o s t e r a ra p i d
r e c o v e r y fr o m s o c i a l
and e c o n o m i c a l d i f f i c u l t i e s . F r o m the above,
as if n a t u r a l l y ,
t h e r e f o l l o w s the n e e d for a c o n s t a n t a n a l y s i s
of f a c t u a l and not a s s u m e d and s i m u l a t e d f o r m s of s o c i a l p a r t i cipation
of the p o p u l a t i o n in
d i f f e r e n t ty p e s
of s o c i a l
struc-
tures.
Thus the a t t e n t i o n of s o c i o l o g i s t s s h o u l d c o n c e n t r a t e to
a g r e a t d e g r e e on e s t a b l i s h i n g b a s i c p a t t e r n s of s o c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the p o p u l a t i o n
in d e t e r m i n e d s t r u c t u r e s ,
on i n d i c a ti n g f a c t o r s w h i c h w o u l d a c t i v i t é the p r o c e s s , as w e l l as
on
e x p o s i n g the r e a s o n s for a p a t h y and p a s s i v i t y .
The a c h i e v e m e n t s of s o c i o l o g y
in g e n e r a l , as wel l as P o l i s h
s o c i o l o g y , are not in t h i s r e s p e c t m a r g i n a l . In P o l i s h s o c i o l o g i cal s t u d i e s m u c h a t t e n t i o n w as g i v e n to the p r o b l e m of p a r t i c i p a t i o n and p r o f e s s i o n a l as we l l as s o c i a l
and p o l i t i c a l a c t i v a ti o n in the ru r a l m i l i e u .
The w o r k s of W. A d a m s k i , D. G a ł a j ,
* W. A d a m s k i ,
Grupy interesów w społeczności
(The G r o u p s of I n t e r e s t in R u r a l C o m m u n i t y ) ,
Warszawa
2
D. G a ł a j, A k t y w n o ś ć s p o ł e c z n o - g o s p o d a r c z a
cial and E c o n o m i c A c t i v i t y of the P e a s a n t s ) ,
Warszawa
wiejskiej
1967.
chłopów (So1961.
F. W. Mleczko3 ,
3. T u r o w s k i 4 ,
Z. T. W i e r z b i c k i 5
p u l s e for the nex t in time, not too
t i o n a l s t u d i e s in the field.
p r o v i d e d the
s y s t e m a t i c and
im-
multi-direc-
The f o l l o w i n g t ex t c o n t i n u e s
this s u b s t a n t i a l
d i r e c t i o n of
studies.
H a v i n g at my d i s p o s a l the r e s u l t s of my o w n e x t e n s i v e
s t u d i e s f ro m the en d of the s e v e n t i e s 6 , o b s e r v a t i o n s a nd s a m p l e
l o c a l i l l u s t r a t i o n s in the rura l m i l i e u f r o m the end of the s e v e n t i e s and the ye a r 1 9 8 4 7 j I u n d e r t a k e
in the f o l l o w i n g p a p e r
an a t t e m p t to a n s w e r the f o l l o w i n g p r o b l e m s - q u e s t i o n s :
1) W h a t p a t t e r n s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the rura l
population
d o m i n a t e in d i f f e r e n t f o r m a t i o n s of s o c i a l c o n t a c t s and s t r u c t u res f u n c t i o n i n g w i t h i n a lo cal c o m m u n i t y ?
2) Do e s a hig h d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in on e f o r m a t i o n
s o c i a l c o n t a c t s c o r r e s p o n d w it h an e q u a l l y h i g h c o m m i t m e n t
of
in
F.W. M l e c z k o ,
Z b a d a ń n ad a k t y w n o ś c i ą z a w o d o w ą
i
społeczną chłopów
(Fr om the S t u d i e s on P r o f e s s i o n a l
and S o c i a l
A c t i v i t y of the P e a s a n t s ) , W r o c ł a w 1964.
4
J. T u r o w s k i ,
Z m i a n y s p o ł e c z n e wsi a m i a s t o
(S oc ial
C h a n g e s of a V i l l a g e as C o m p a r e d to the C i ty),
L u b l i n 1949.
5 Z. T. W i e r z b i c k i
[ed.] A k t y w i z a c j a i r o z w ó j s p o łeczności lokalnych
(The A c t i v a t i o n and D e v e l o p m e n t of L o c a l C o m munities),
W r o c ł a w 1973.
6 The m a i n s o u r c e for the r e f l e c t i o n s e x p r e s s e d in th i s a r t i cl e is c o n s t i t u t e d by th e r e s u l t s of e m p i r i c a l s t u d i e s
realized
in 1977 a nd 1978 in U n i v e r s i t y of Łódź.
These studies were r eal i z e d g e n e r a l l y in n i n e c o m m u t e s :
Widawa voivodship Sieradz, Pę p o w o v o i v o d s h i p L e s zno, S u l m i e r z y c e v o i v o d s h i p P i o t r k ó w , O p i n o g ó r a
voivodship Ciechanów, Krokowa voivodship Gdańsk,
Miłakowo voivodsh i p O l s z t y n ,
N ow e M i a s t e c z k o v o i v o d s h i p Z i e l o n a Góra,
Skierbies z ó w v o i v o d s h i p Z a m o ś ć and W o d z i s ł a w v o i v o d s h i p K i e lce. In
this
s t u d y I t ak e into c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t a fro m W i d a w a ,
Pę p o w o, S u l m i e rzyce, O p i n o g ó r a ,
No w e M i a s t e c z k o , S k i e r b i e s z ó w and
Wodzisław,
A l t o g e t h e r in thes e c o m m u n e s 1253 f a m i l i e s w e r e i n c l u d e d in the
stu d i e s .
I n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g f a m i l y c o n t a c t s wa s r e c o r d e d only
in W i d aw a, Pę powo, O p i n o g ó r a and S u l m i e r z y c e .
Th e w h o l e study has
b e e n r e a l i z e d as a r e s u l t of an o r d e r of in W a r s a w u n d e r
cont r a c t PR-5.
For d e e p e r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t p r i n c i p l e s of s e l e c t i o n
and o t h e r dat a c o n c e r n i n g th i s s t u d y look in:
M. K o w a l s k i ,
A. M a j e r ,
W. P i o t r o w s k i ,
P. S t a r o s t a ,
Prob l e m y k s z t a ł t o w a n i a o ś r o d k ó w m i e s z k a l n o - u s ł u g o w y c h w ś w i e t l e społ e c z n y c h p o s t a w l u d n o ś c i gmin.
Synteza
badań
socjologicznych
( P r o b l e m s of S h a p i n g the R e s i d e n t i a l an d S e r v i c e C e n t e r s in the
L i g h t of S o c i a l A t t i t u d e s of the C o m m u n e P o p u l a t i o n .
T he
Synt h e s i s of the S o c i o l o g i c a l S t u d i e s ) ,
PR-5, 1 1 1 / 1 2 0 / 7 8 , Ł ó d ź 1980.
The t y p e s c r i p t in IKS in W a r s aw .
The s t u d i e s on
O c t o b e r 1984.
e l e c t i o n s to the c o u n c i l s
I c a r r i e d out
in
the r e m a i n i n g f o r m a t i o n s w h e r e a s a low d e g r e e of
participation
in one of the f i e l d s is a c c o m p a n i e d by an e q u a l l y low d e g r e e
in
th e r e m a i n i n g f i e l d s ?
3)
W h a t is the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the g l o b a l le vel of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the lif e of th e ru r a l l o c a l c o m m u n i t y and the s e l e c t e d
f e a t u r e s of s o c i a l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s u c h as:
the fact of p e r t a i n in g to a c e r t a i n s o c i a l
and p r o f e s s i o n a l g rou p ,
a m o u n t of i n com e, l e v e l of m a t e r i a l w e a l t h , le vel of e d u c a t i o n ,
the f ac t of
b e l o n g i n g to an e c o l o g i c a l zon e of i n h a b i t a t i o n w i t h i n the dist r i c t a nd f i n a l l y the le v e l of t h e d i s t r i c t s u r b a n i z a t i o n .
As f o l l o w s f r o m the a b ove ,
the ke y n o t i o n u t i l i z e d in this
p a p e r a nd at the s a m e ti m e the d e p e n d e n t u n i t of a n a l y s i s is thé
p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the i n h a b i t a n t s in the s o c i a l life of the
rura l
lo c a l c o m m u n i t y .
That c o m m u n i t y is the d i s t r i c t c o m m u n e 1,, for the
b o r d e r s of the c o m m u n e ,
a relatively
in my o p i n i o n ,
m a r k o ut the f r a m e w o r k of
c o m p l e t e and f u n c t i o n a l a re a of f u l f i l l i n g th e b a s i c
social,
economical
and c u l t u r a l n e e d s . M a n y s o c i o l o g i s t s
had
put h o p e in the c o m m u n e in the s o c i o l o g i c a l
s e n s e s e e i n g it as
an i n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e 1 0 . It w as b e l i e v e d
tha t
the e x i s t i n g w i t h i n it i n s t i t u t i o n a l f o r m a t i o n w o u l d b e c o m e the
c a u s e of f o r m i n g n e w b e y o n d - v i 1 lage lo c a l c o m m u n i t i e s of a new
type, in o t h e r w o r d s th a t thi s c o m m u n i t y w o u l d b e g i n to f u l f i l l
the c o n d i t i o n s of a d i s t r i c t c o m m u n i t y .
In t h i s c o n t e x t t he s t u d i e s of the p o p u l a t i o n ' s s o c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the d i s t r i c t c o m m u n i t y
m a y be of e s s e n t i a l s i g n i ficance
in t h e e m p i r i c a l v e r i f i c a t i o n of the t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t
of a r e i n t e g r a t i o n of the t e r r i t o r i a l
rural community - a c o n c e p t f u l l y d i s c u s s e d in P o l a n d by J. T u r o w s k i .
One w o u l d a ls o n e e d to d i s c u s s h e r e the w a y of u n d e r s t a n d i n g
the t e r m " p a r t i c i p a t i o n "
in the lif e of the lo c a l c o m m u n i t y . The
g
C o m m u n e is a s m a l l e s t ru r a l of a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d i v i s i o n
of
Polish countryside.
9
Т. К а с h n i a r z,
Kierunki i zasady przestrzennego zag o s p o d a r o w a n i a wsi
(The D i r e c t i o n s a nd P r i n c i p l e s of the
Area
P l a n n i n g of the V i l l a g e ) , W a r s z a w a 1975.
W. P i o t r o w s k i ,
P r o c e s y k s z t a ł t o w a n i a się p o n a d klasowej społeczności gminy
( P r o c e s s e s of F o r m i n g the
Beyond- C l a s s C o m m u n i t y of the C o m m u n e ) , [in:] G m in a. Je j f u n k c j e i w a runki rozwoju
(The C o m m u n e . Its F u n c t i o n s and C o n d i t i o n s of D e v e l o p m e n t ) , O l s z t y n 1975.
te r m " p a r t i c i p a t i o n " , e v e r so o f t e n
u s e d in c o l l o q u i a l
language
c a n n o t be by any m e a n s e a s i l y p r e c i s e l y d e f i n e d .
In fac t I d o u b t
if t h e r e e x i s t s a p o s s i b l e real d e f i n i t i o n of this n o t i o n w h i c h
w o u l d s a t i s f y th e m a j o r i t y of s o c i o l o g i s t s .
It is d i f f i c u l t
to
s u g g e s t that the m u l t i p l i c i t y and v a r i e t y of
social phenomena
w h i c h e x i s t w i t h i n this t e r m c o u l d be e x p r e s s e d by a short form u l a w h i c h w o u l d not f a v o u r a c e r t a i n m a n n e r of s i m p l i f i c a t i o n .
Thi s a s c e r t a i n m e n t
becomes evident when
we r e v i e w
the
defini-
tio n of the term " p a r t i c i p a t i o n " u s e d by s o c i o l o g i s t s . The f o r m u l a t i o n s of A. L. B e r t r a n d and Z. T. W i e r z b i c k i 1 1 , S. C h a p i n 1 2 ,
E. F. K a t z 1 3 , 3. K u l p i ń s k a 1 4 , В. M i s z t a l 1 5 , P. R y b i c k i 16 i n d i ca t e the e x i s t e n c e of a s m a l l r a n g e of c o m m o n m e a n i n g f or t hi s
n o t ion .
The q u o t e d a u t h o r s and o t h e r s o c i o l o g i s t s in
general
p r e s e n t a c o i n c i d i n g o p i n i o n onl y in one m a t t e r ,
tha t is th a t a
s o c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n is a s p e c i f i c i n v o l v e m e n t or e n t a n g l e m e n t
of an i n d i v i d u a l or a g r o u p in the d e f i n i t e s y s t e m of m u t u a l i n t e r a c t i o n s and c o n s e q u e n t l y of s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s .
However,
the
c h a r a c t e r of th is i n v o l v e m e n t is of a v a r i o u s n a t ure.
F i r s t of
all, s o m e a u t h o r s
h a v i o u r a l n a t ure,
s u g g e s t that s u c h e n t a n g l e m e n t s ar e of a b e and t h e y p r o c e e d t h r o u g h b e h a v i o u r and c o n n e c -
ted to it s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s .
O t h e r s b r o a d e n thi s r a n g e by
c l u d i n g the m e n t a l s p h e r e a nd t h a t of the c o n s c i o u s n e s s .
inS om e
b e l i e v e tha t p a r t i c i p a t i o n is a s o c i a l
fac t w h i c h t a k e s
place
o p e n l y a nd o b j e c t i v e l y w h e r e a s o t h e r s a s s u m e th a t p a r t i c i p a t i o n
m ay a l s o
e x i s t in a l a t e n t
f o r m as a s p e c i f i c
p r e d i s p o s i t i o n to
11 A. L. B e r t r a n d ,
Z. W i e r z b i c k i ,
Sociologia
wsi w S t a n a c h Z j e d n o c z o n y c h .
Stan i tendencje rozwojowe (Soc i o l o gy of the C o u n t r y s i d e in the U n i t e d S t a tes.
The P r e s e n t State and
Tr e n d s of D e v e l o p m e n t ) , W r o c ł a w 1970. p. 87.
12
F.
S. С h a p i n, S o c i a l P a r t i c i p a t i o n
lige n c e , " A m e r i c a n S o c i o l o g i c a l R e v i e w " 1939.
and S o c i a l I n t e l -
13 E. F. K a t z ,
S o c i a l P a r t i c i p a t i o n and S o c i a l S t r u c t u r e ,
" S o c i a l F o r c e s " 1966, vol. 45, p. 199.
14
3. K u l p i ń s k a ,
Społeczna
aktywność
pracowników
p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w a p r z e m y s ł o w e g o (The S o c i a l A c t i v i t y
of the
Emp l o y e e s of th e I n d u s t r i a l E n t e r p r i s e ) ,
W r o c ł a w 1969,
p. 20.
15 В. M i s z t a 1, Z a g a d n i e n i a s p o ł e c z n e g o u c z e s t n i c t w a
i
w s p ó ł d z i a ł a n i a ( P r o b l e m s of S o c i a l P a r t i c i p a t i o n an d Cooperati on )
W r o c ł a w 1977.
16 P. R у b i с к i, S p o ł e c z e ń s t w o m i e j s k i e
c i e ty) ,
W a r s z a w a 1972, p. 315.
(The U r b a n
So-
t he e x i s t e n c e of th e fact.
S o m e e x p o s e t e l e o l o g i s m as th e
f e a t u r e of s o c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n w h e r e a s the o t h e r s t r e a t
feature with some
d e g r e e of r e s e r v e .
The d i f f e r e n c e s
main
this
mentioned
a b o v e a re o n l y a g o o d e x a m p l e of the d i s s i m i l a r i t i e s of s t a n d i n g s
in the w a y of u n d e r s t a n d i n g the t e r m of s o c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n .
As
follows from
th e a b o v e it is e a s i e r to e s t a b l i s h in w h a t r e s e a r c h s i t u a t i o n s thi s t e r m is u s e d by s o c i o l o g i s t s than, in fact,
to d e t e r m i n e h o w it is c o m p r e h e n d e d .
P a y i n g c l o s e a t t e n t i o n to
t h i s fact , G. A. a nd A. G. T h e o d o r s o n s s t a t e t h a t the t e r m
"social partic i p a t i o n "
s i g n e d to the
in s o c i o l o g i c a l p r a c t i c e
1. p a r t i c i p a t i o n
most often
is
as-
of an i n d i v i d u a l in s o c i a l g r o u p s
[...J
2. p a r t i c i p a t i o n in v o l u n t a r y a s s o c i a t i o n s [. . . ] 3. p a r t i c i p a t i o n in s o m e ty p e s of s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s or a c t i o n s as well
as 4. in e x t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n s as c o m p a r e d to tha t of the i n d i v i d u a l s
p l a c e of w o r k 1'1 7 . Thu s e x c l u d i n g f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n s of the d e f i n i t i o n of the term,
I a s s u m e for the p u r p o s e of t h e s e
studies
tha t I u n d e r s t a n d the t e r m " p a r t i c i p a t i o n in t he li f e of the l o cal c o m m u n i t y " as b e h a v i o u r a l f o r m s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n of i n d i v i duals and groups
in s u c h c o n t a c t s a nd s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s
whose
e x i s t e n c e and f u n c t i o n i n g r e s u l t s f r o m the fac t of
inhabiting
a nd u t i l i z i n g a c e r t a i n t e r r i t o r y by the p o p u l a t i o n l i v i n g there.
In t he s t a t e m e n t
f o r m u l a t e d a b o v e it is a s s u m e d that
the
o p e r a t i v e a n a l y s i s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n
as r e l a t e d to a lo cal or
t e r r i t o r i a l c o m m u n i t y s h o u l d ta k e int o a c c o u n t th e
description
of the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a c h o s e n s o c i a l s u b j e c t
in c o n t a c t s and
s t r u c t u r e s s p e c i f i c fo r t h i s and o n l y t h i s c o m m u n i t y , as well as its
p a r t i c i p a t i o n in f o r m a t i o n s c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d to the b a s i c area
b ut n ot i d e n t i c a l w i t h it. U t i l i z i n g the t h e o r e t i c a l s u q o e s t i o n s
18
of W. K o r n h o u s e r
w h i c h p o i n t to th e t r i p l e l e v e l descrip ti on of
t h e l a y e r s of s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s in e a c h s t r u c t u r e ,
I applied
it to my r e s e a r c h s i t u a t i o n .
S i n c e in my s t u d i e s the c o m m u n e was
my m a i n h i g h e r s t r u c t u r e ,
I d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w i t h i n its f r a m e three
b a s i c f o r m a t i o n s of c o n t a c t s and s t r u c t u r e s , w h i c h in the c o u r s e
of
t hi s
paper
I will
a l s o ca ll a r e a s
of i n t e r a c t i o n . The firs t
G.
A. T h e o d o r s o n ,
A. G. T h e o d o r s o n ,
M o d e r n D i c t i o n a r y of S o c i o l o g y ,
C r o w e l l C o m p a n y , N e w Yor k 1969, p.
292.
18
W. K o r n h a u s e r ,
The P o l i t i c s of M a s s S o c i e t y ,
London
1960, p. 21 - 101.
A
is the f o r m a t i o n of c o n t a c t s and s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s of a g e n e r a l
or c o m m u n a l n a t u r e .
The p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the i n h a b i t a n t s in thi s
formation
is r e a l i z e d t h r o u g h s u c h
contacts
and s o c i a l
struc-
t u r e s w h i c h r e c o g n i z e the c o m m u n e in its e n t i r e t y as t he b a s i s
and aim of a c t i v i t y and are o r i e n t e d at it. As an e x a m p l e of
t h e s e o b j e c t s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n o n e c a n c o n s i d e r the activities and
u n d e r t a k i n g s of a c o m m u n i t y a c t i o n s t yp e w h i c h w e r e d e p i c t e d by
19
W. A. S u t t o n and J . K o l a j a
as w e l l as s t r u c t u r e s w h i c h 3. Y o u n g
20
a nd S. M a y o call lo cal o r g a n i z a t i o n s
. Th e a r t i c u l a t i o n of the
n e e d s of the loc al p o p u l a t i o n and th e c o n n e c t e d a c t i v i t i e s
of
the i n h a b i t a n t s w e r e e m p i r i c a l l y a n a l y z e d .
M o r e o v e r , the s t u d i e s
considered:
the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the i n h a b i t a n t s in s o c i a l
act i o n s o r g a n i z e d for the s a k e of the c o m m u n e an d f o r m s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the lo cal p o p u l a t i o n in the c o m m u n e c o u n c i l . The s e c o n d f o r m a t i o n c o n s t i t u t e s the l a y e r of i n t e r m e d i a t e
contacts
an d s t r u c t u r e s w h o s e e s s e n c e is u s u a l l y d e f i n e d
through
the
functions.
T he y c o n s t i t u t e a s p e c i f i c link a f t e r w h i c h t h e r e most
o f t e n f o l l e w c o n t a c t s of the i n d i v i d u a l w i t h the m a i n s t r u c t u r e .
G e n e r a l l y t h e s e t y p e s of s t r u c t u r e s i n c l u d e s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s
21
a nd i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h W. P i o t r o w s k i
c a l l s loca l.
A c t i n g at
a
g i v e n l o c a l i t y they r e p r e s e n t t he i n t e r e s t no t o n l y of the p o p u l a t i o n i n h a b i t i n g the ar e a but al s o s t r u c t u r e s of a h i g h e r o r der and p a r a l l e l
to the c o m m u n e .
ly th e f o r m a l a f f i l i a t i o n
The s t u d i e s a n a l y z e d e m p i r i c a l -
with these types
of o r g a n i z a t i o n s , the
s o c i a l - w e l f a r e r o l e s p l a y e d by the i n h a b i t a n t s , and the f r e q u e n cy of a t t e n d i n g m e e t i n g s .
Finally,
the last f o r m a t i o n c o n s t i t u tes the i n t e r a c t i o n s and p r i m a r y s t r u c t u r e s .
Their essence
is
the direct,
p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t b e t w e e n the s u b j e c t s t a k i n g part
19 W. A. S u t t o n, J. К o 1 a j a, E l e m e n t s of C o m m u n i t y
Act ion , " S o c i a l F o r c e s " 1960, vol. 38.
20 J. N. Y o u n g,. S. С. M а у о, M a n i f e s t and L a t e n t P a r t i c i p a t i o n s in a Ru r a l C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n P r o g r a m m , " S o c i a l F o r c e s "
1960, vol. 38.
ÓI
W. P i o t r o w s k i ,
Miejska społeczność lokalna a o r ganizacje terenowe
(The U r b a n Lo c a l S o c i e t y and the L o c a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s ) , Z e s z y t y BRU, W a r s z a w a 1968.
in the i n t e r a c t i o n ,
w h e r e a s the
s t r u c t u r e s is the f a c t
characteristic feature
t h a t all its
m e m b e r s ar e
of
the
no t able to c o n -
tac t w i t h e a c h o t h e r all at on e p l a c e a n d time.
In the
empiri c a l s e n s e th i s le vel of c o n t a c t s w a s a n a l y z e d t h r o u g h the i n t e r - n e i g h b o u r and i n t e r - f a m i l y r e l a t i o n s .
The n e i g h b o u r p a r t i c i p a t i o n w a s a n a l y z e d t h r o u g h s u c h f a c t s as:
the
number
of
n e i g h b o u r s w i t h w h o m t he s t u d i e d f a m i l y k e e p s s o c i a l c o n t a c t s ;
the n u m b e r a nd t y p e of m u t u a l s e r v i c e s a n d m e e t i n g s . The i n t e r -family contacts
connections
were analyzed from
w i t h the a r e a
f a m i l y the n u m b e r
the p o i n t of v i e w
of th e i r
of the c o m m u n e e s t a b l i s h i n g for
of c l o s e f a m i l i e s
inhabiting
each
a given commune
(i.e. p a r e n t s , s i b l i n g s , c h i l d r e n ) the f r e q u e n c y of c o n t a c t s and
mutual services.
Let us add,
th a t we w e r e i n t e r e s t e d
in
the
p a r t i c i p a t i o n of t he l o c a l c o m m u n a l c o m m u n i t y of o n l y its p e r manent inhabitants.
P u t t i n g a s i d e th e
d i s c u s s the
p r o c e d u r a l a nd
technical data I will
main empirical ascertainments.
n ow
T h e i r r e s u l t s can be
e x p r e s s e d as f oll o w s :
one n e e d s to s t a t e th a t in the s p h e r e of
self-declarations
the s t u d i e d p e r s o n s c l e a r l y s t r e s s e d the g r e a t
s i g n i f i c a n c e of c o n s t a c t s a n d p r i m a r y s t r u c t u r e s fo r the life of
the s o c i e t y .
The n e i g h b o u r and f a m i l y w e r e th e tw o b a s i c s p h e res of r e f e r e n c e for the i n h a b i t a n t s of the c o m m u n e s
under
study.
The p e r s o n s i n t e r v i e w e d w e r e f i r s t of all i n t e r e s t e d in
g a i n i n g the r e c o g n i t i o n a nd r e s p e c t of the n e i g h b o u r s - 58%,
n e x t th e f a m i l y - 55%,
f r i e n d s and s u p e r i o r s f r o m s o c i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s - 29%,
an d o t h e r p e o p l e - 6%.
When referring
to the
p a t t e r n s a nd p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in p a r t i c u l a r p r i m a r y s p h e r e s
on e
n e e d s to s t r e s s t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y ,
i n t e n s i t y and d u r a t i o n
in
time.
U n i v e r s a l i t y m e a n s her e th a t the i n t e r - f a m i l y a n d i n t e r -neighbour contacts
in th e s t u d i e d c o m m u n e s c o n c e r n a l m o s t all
of the f a m i l i e s . On l y 2 . 5 % of the f a m i l i e s did not k e e p any c o n tacts with neighbours,
an d 4% w i t h the f a m i l i e s of the c l o s est m e m b e r s of the f a m il y.
In t e r m s of the n u m b e r s
the
3-4
f a m i l y n e i g h b o u r h o o d c i r c l e s a nd 5-6 f a m i l y c i r c l e s of the c l o s est r e l a t i v e
were dominant.
neighbour circles
Let us ad d
were also dominant
that s i m i l a r n u m b e r s of
in the s e v e n t i e s
in
the
sm a l l t ow n
in this
22
and u r b a n
23
m i l ieu.
area of i n t e r a c t i o n
The g r e a t i n t e n s i t y
is the e f f e c t of
of c o n t a c t s
frequent
everyday
n e i g h b o u r c o n t a c t s a nd less f r e q u e n t but m a i n l y w e e k l y m e e t i n g s
with chosen closely related families.
The b a s i s of t h e s e n e i g h bour contacts
are m a i n l y m e e t i n g s "fo r no s p e c i a l o c c a s s i o n " 82%, w h e r e a s f a m i l y c o n t a c t " v i s i t s " - 71%.
The y r e s u l t
in the
e x c h a n g e of i n f o r m a t i o n and a d v i c e d e a l i n g w i t h v a r i o u s m a t t e r s
of life.
The n e i g h b o u r and f a m i l y c o n t a c t s are r e p e a t e d s y s t e m a t i c a l l y w h i c h a s s u r e s t h e i r c o n t i n u i t y an d s e c u r e s its d u r a b i l i t y in time. C o n s i d e r i n g the c o n t e n t s or the s u b j e c t
basis,
o ne m ay st a t e that m o r e and m o r e o f t e n the y e v o l v e f r o m th e i r
p r o t e c t i v e and e c o n o m i c f u n c t i o n to the on e of a s o c i a l and consumptive character.
Tha t l a t t e r f u n c t i o n is r e a l i z e d m o r e
and
m o r e o f t e n b ot h in n e i g h b o u r a nd f a m i l y c i r c l e s .
Presently
in
the v i l l a g e the n e i g h b o u r h o o d is an i n s t i t u t i o n p r o t e c t i n g
and
h e l p i n g in s m a l l and e v e r y d a y m a t t e r s and the f a m i l y
in b a s i c
and s p o r a d i c m a t t e r s .
The e v o l u t i o n of the f u n c t i o n of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the p r i m a r y c i r c l e s in the v i l l a g e f ro m s e r v i c e - s o cia l f u n c t i o n s to m o r e and m o r e s o l e l y s o c i a l on e s
is
ca us ed,
among others,
by the f o l l o w i n g fa ctor s:
1) M o v i n g of a n u m b e r of
e c o n o m i c s e r v i c e s fro m the r e l a t i o n s h i p s n e i g h b o u r - n i e g h b o u r and
f a m i l y - f a m i l y to the r e l a t i o n s h i p s c i t i z e n - i n s t i t u t i o n .
2) S y s t e m a t i c d e c r e a s e a m o n g the ru r a l p o p u l a t i o n
of the n u m b e r of
i n d i v i d u a l f a r m e r s a m o n g s t w h i c h e c o n o m i c s e r v i c e s and m a t e r i a l
and t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e
are u n d e r t a k e n
as a
consequence
of
p e r f o r m i n g the p r o f e s s i o n .
3) A s i g n i f i c a n t g r o w i n g t e c h n i c a l i n d e p e n d e n c e of the far ms .
4) The d u r a b i l i t y of th e c o l l e c tiv e and e x t e r n a l s t y l e of l if e of the i n h a b i t a n t s of the
v i l l a g e i n t e r p r e t e d as a s y s t e m
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the ab ove ,
the
tion
in p r i m a r y c i r c l e s
22
of v a l u e s w o r t h a d o p t i n g .
In
o b j e c t i v e b a s i s of p a r t i c i p a -
is s u b m i t t e d to a c e r t s i n m i n i m a l r e d u c -
H.
M u r a w s к a-K o p r o w s k a ,
Kształtowanie
s p o ł e c z n o ś c i u p r z e m y s ł a w i a n e g o m i a s t e c z k a R u c i a n e N id a
(The F o r m i n g of the S o c i e t y of the I n d u s t r i a l
Tow n R u c i a n e N ida) ,
Łódź
1981. p. 2 0 5 - 2 0 7 [ a P hD T h e sis,
t y p e s c r i p t in the L i b r a r y of Łódź
University J.
23
A. S o s n o w s k i ,
J . W a 1 к o, w i а к ,
Sąsiedztwo i
jeg o o d z w i e r c i e d l e n i e w ś w i a d o m o ś c i m i e s z k a ń c ó w
wielkomiejskich
osiedli
(The N e i g h b o u r h o o d and its R e f l e c t i o n in the C o n s c i o u s ne s s of the I n h a b i t a n t s of U r b a n R e s i d e n t i a l C o m p l e x e s ) , " S t u d i a
S o c j o l o g i c z n e " ( " S o c i o l o g i c a l S t u d i e s " ) 1983, No. 1.
się
t i o n in p r i m a r y c i r c l e s is s u b m i t t e d to a c e r t a i n m i n i m a l r e d u c t i o n s i n c e its r a n g e d o e s not e m b r a c e all or a l m o s t all d i m e n s i o n s of s o c i a l l i f e b u t o n l y s o m e of them.
Th e p e r s o n a l , d i r e c t
c h a r a c t e r of t h e s e c o n t a c t s ,
though,
d o e s no t c h a n g e .
W ha t is
m o r e , o ne n e e d s to a d d t h a t the p a t t e r n s of b e h a v i o u r
of t h e s e s t r u c t u r e s a re c o n v e y e d to o t h e r l e v e l s
of
and structures,
especially
typical
contacts
to the i n t e r m e d i a t e s t r u c t u r e s .
U n l i k e th e p a t t e r n s d e p i c t e d a b o v e is the d o m i n a t i n g p a t t e r n
of p a r t n e r s h i p in the f o r m a t i o n of i n t e r m e d i a t e c o n t a c t s
and
structures.
P a r t i c i p a t i o n in s t r u c t u r e s of t h i s k i n d is c o m m on,
o n l y 1 1% of t h o s e u n d e r s t u d y did n ot b e l o n g to any form al organization.
S e c o n d l y , o ne n e e d s to s t a t e that 72% of t h o s e
bel o n g i n g to o r g a n i z a t i o n s
organization
ticipation
w e r e ab l e
w i t h i n the v i l l a g e .
manifests
to a t t e n d t h e
Th e c o m m o n n e s s of
i t s e l f not on l y
t h r o u g h the
a b o d e of th e i r
formal
par-
high p e r c e n t -
age of a f f i l i a t e d m e m b e r s ,
but als o t h r o u g h th e fac t t ha t g e n e r a l l y it is an a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h tw o o r g a n i z a t i o n s at
the s am e
tim e.
M o s t o f t e n t h e s e are o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h s e r v i ces r e n d e r e d to t he v i l l a g e and a g r i c u l t u r e s u c h as:
Village
W o m e n s A s s o c i a t i o n - 52%,
F a r m e r s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n - 3 4% a nd C o m m u nal C o o p e r a t i v e s - 44%.
T he p e r c e n t a g e of t h o s e s t u d i e d w h o b e l o n g to p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s w as m u c h lo wer .
Our
studies
f o u n d out,
on t he o t h e r han d,
tha t t he f u n c t i o n i n g of the
so-called social
a nd s o c i o - c u l t u r a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s in the
ru ral
e n v i r o n m e n t is m a r g i n a l .
The a f f i l i a t i o n a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n in ru r a l intermediate struct u r e s w e r e b r o u g h t a b o u t m a i n l y by t w o g r u p s of m o t i v e s . S t u d i e s
i n d i c a t e d e i t h e r c e r t a i n m a t e r i a l b e n e f i t s w h i c h c o u l d be obtained by the
m e m b e r of the o r g a n i z a t i o n or his f a m i l y as a r e s u l t of his m e m b e r s h i p , or a " s i t u a t i o n a l n e c e s s i t y " w h i c h as if
f o r c e s m e m b e r s h i p of an o r g a n i z a t i o n if,
for e x a m p l e ,
o n e p er f o r m e s a c e r t a i n p r o f e s s i o n or o c c u p i e s a c e r t a i n p o s i t i o n . T hu s
p a r t i c i p a t i o n is
mainly
i n t e r e s t or n e e d s of th e
an i n s t r u m e n t for r e a l i z i n g
personal
p r i m a r y g r o u p s w i t h w h i c h th e i n d i v i -
dua l is c o n n e c t e d .
It has l i t t l e to do w i t h i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i cal or a l t r u i s t i c r e a s o n s .
The c o m m o n n e s s of o r g a n i z a t i o n
memb e r s h i p r e m a i n s in q u i t e s i g n i f i c a n t o p p o s i t i o n to the sm a l l i n v o l v e m e n t in o r g a n i z a t i o n m a t t e r s .
T h i s m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f in h a r dly any a c t i v i t y for the s a k e of the o r g a n i z a t i o n as
w ell as
h a r d l y an y i n t e r e s t in its m a t t e r s .
The p e r s o n s w ho w e r e
inv e s t i g a t e d did not r e c a l l any t a s k s set f o r t h j o i n t l y for r e a l i z a t i o n or m e a n s
tha t w e r e at th e d i s p o s a l of the o r g a n i z a t i o n to
w h i c h th ey b e l o n g e d .
As far as the p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in p r i m a r y c i r c l e s
is i n t e n s i v e
and l a s t i n g ,
and in the f o r m a t i o n of i n t e r m e d i a t e c o n t a c t s it is
c o m m o n b ut p a s s i v e and i n s t r u m e n t a l ,
the n in
the
community
s t r u c t u r e s it is the le a s t d e v e l o p e d and the m o s t l a t ent.
Thi s
m a n i f e s t s it se lf
f i r s t l y in h a r d l y
est r e s u l t i n g • f r o m the f ac t
any f e e l i n g of
of i n h a b i t i n g
common inter-
the ar e a of
th e c o m -
mune.
Ab o u t 41% of the i n v e s t i g a t e d p e r s o n s w e r e no t
ab l e to
p o i n t to any m a t t e r s or s o c i a l p r o b l e m s w h i c h n e e d e d to be s o l v ed in t h e i r m i l i e u .
I n o t e d a s i m i l a r lac k of i n t e r e s t
in 1984
d u r i n g s t u d i e s of e l e c t i o n s to the c o m m u n e c o u n c i l
in two o t h e r
c o m m u n e s . At the e nd of the s e v e n t i e s a w e a k a r t i c u l a t i o n of local n e e d s a p p e a r e d j o i n t l y w i t h a c o m m o n p a r t i c i p a t i o n of
the
population
in a c t i o n s
for the sa k e
of o n ^ s o w n l o c a l i t y or c o m -
mune.
In m a n y c a s e s thi s p a r t i c i p a t i o n w as of a r o u t i n e an d ritua l kind,
a l t h o u g h it w as m u c h b r o a d e r a nd les s a p p a r e n t than
in the c i t ies.
S i m i l a r l y the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the v i l l a g e in habitans
in the c o m m u n e c o u n c i l e l e c t i o n s w a s of a h i g h e r
degree
than of the cit y i n h a b i t a n t s to d i s t r i c t
and ci t y c o u n c i l e l e c tions.
H o w e v e r , the e l e c t i o n s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e not t r e a t e d as a
p o l i t i c a l e v e n t but as a n a t i o n - w i d e fact. Thu s in o ur c o n d i t i o n s
one c a n n o t a c k n o w l e d g e w i t h o u t o b j e c t i o n s the p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in
e l e c t i o n s as a f o r m of p a r t i c i p a t i o n of o n l y a c o m m u n i t y n a tur e .
F u r t h e r m o r e , o ne n e e d s to s t r e s s the la ck of s e l f - d e p e n d e n c e
in t e r m s of m a k i n g d e c i s i o n s ,
o r g a n i z a t i o n or f i n a n c i n g of the
l o c a l a p p a r a t u s of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t i.e.
what
the
c o m m u n e c o u n c i l s h o u l d h a v e b e e n in its a s s u m p t i o n s .
As a r e s u l t of s u b o r d i n a t i n g the c o u n c i l to th e i n f l u e n c e of the C o m m u n e C o m m i t t e e of the P o l i s h U n i t e d W o r k e r ' s Pa rt y, the c o m m u n e
c o u n c i l g o v e r n e d u n d e r the g u i d a n c e a n d c o n t r o l of
political
organizations
and h i g h e r l e v e l s
c o n f i r m e d n ot on l y
of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
by my o w n s t u d i e s
Th i s fact is
and o b s e r v a t i o n s
b ut als o
24
. I do
by the s t u d i e s of my c o l l e a g u e s c o n c e r n i n g c o m m u n e c o u n c i l s
Fr o m n u m e r o u s s t u d i e s p u b l i s h e d in:
"Problemy
R ad N a r o d o -
not s u p p o s e
that t h e r e c o u l d
ce in the s t u d i e s
considered
conducted
the r o l e of the
h a v e b e e n any
radical changes si n -
in 1984 a b o u t 20%
c o u n c i l in t h e i r
of the respondents
commune more "deco-
rative
than g o v e r n i n g .
W ha t is m ore, on l y 3% of the i n h a b i t a n t s
of the tw o c o m m u n e s s t u d i e d
in 1984 s t a t e d th a t the a v e r a g e i n h a b i t a n t s a nd c o u n c i l m e m b e r s p o s s e s e d a s i g n i f i c a n t
influence
in s o l v i n g i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m s of the c o m m m u n e ,
w h e r e a s 82% of
those under study
a s s i g n e d to
th i s s u b j e c t a b s o l u t e
lack
of
influence.
In the ru r a l
an o p i n i o n e x i s t s
milieu both
in the s e v e n t i e s
tha t in d e c i d i n g a b o u t
matters
a nd toda y
c o n c e r n i n g the
c o m m u n e and lif e w i t h i n its f r a m e s n e i t h e r
the a v e r a g e
inhabit a n t s n or b e y o n d - l o c a l
(i.e. b e y o n d c o m m u n e )
authorities
hav e
the g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e , but m a n a g e r s of m a i n o r g a n i z a t i o n s
i n s t i t u t i o n s of th e c o m m u n e e x c l u d i n g the c o m m u n e c o u n c i l .
and
The n o m i n a t i o n and not the e l e c t i o n of c o u n c i l m e m b e r s
in
th e s e v e n t i e s and the la c k of s e l f - d e p e n d e n c e of the
council
even
in s m a l l e s t loca l m a t t e r s b r o u g h t a b o u t the fac t that h a r d ly a n y o n e to o k i n t e r e s t
in the w o r k of the c o u n c i l , and tod ay
the i n t e r e s t
is n ot s i g n i f i c a n t l y hig her.
S i m i l a r l y , the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the c o u n c i l m e m b e r s w as p a s s i v e
in its f o r m s
and
came down
to a b i d i n g
in the c o u n c i l
an d a c c e p t i n g
decisions
"rightful
in a d v a n c e " and no t w o r k e d u p o n by the c o u n c i l .
It
follows from
the d a t a p r e s e n t e d
by B. Z a w a d z k a that a b o u t 20% of
the m e m b e r s o n l y a b i d e d
in the c o u n c i l
a n d d id not
part
. This p r o v i d e s p r o o f of the w e a k f u n c t i o n i n g
tak e a c t i v e
of the are a
of c o m m u n i t y
i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h i n the c o m m u n e w h i c h is e v e n m o r e
superficial
th an the ar e a of i n t e r m e d i a t e i n t e r a c t i o n s .
S u m m i n g up,
on e n e e d s to s t r e s s that the p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in
th e f o r m a t i o n of p r i m a r y c o n t a c t s r e m a i n s st i l l
in the rural mi-
wych"
(" The P r o b l e m s of N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l s " )
I will lim i t m y s e l f
J. B o r k o w s k i ,
Administraonl y to p e c i f y the f o l l o w i n g :
cja g m i n n a ,
je j ro la w s y s t e m i e w ł a d z y g m i n n e j
(The C o m m u n e A d ministration,
Its R o l e in G o v e r n i n g S y s t e m of t he C o m m u n e ) , 1978
No. 41;
S. D z i ę c i o ł o w s k a ,
G m i n n a ra d a n a r o d o w a i a d m i n i s t r a c j a w o p i n i i m i e s z k a ń c ó w wsi
(The C o m m u n e C o u n c i l and A d ministration
in th e O p i n i o n of the I n h a b i t a n t s of the V i l l a g e )
1977, No. 36;
B. Z a w a d z k a ,
Gminny organ przedstawicielski
(The C o m m u n a l R e p r e s e n t a t i v e B od y),
1978, No. 41.
25 Z a w a d z k a ,
op, cit. ,
p. 45.
lieu t he m o s t a c t i v e
and s i g n i f i c a n t ;
ar e a of i n t e r m e d i a t e
interactions
w h e r e a s p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the
v i s i b l e and h a r d l y dr aw n.
As far
as the s e c o n d
is w e a k e r but
community
general
the p a r t i c i p a t i o n
formation
in
the
clearly marked,
is
t he
le a s t
q u e s t i o n - p r o b l e m is c o n c e r n e d ,
on e n e e d s to s t a t e that,
generally speaking,
no d e f i n i t e , p o s i t iv e c o n c u r r e n c e of the l e v e l s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in th e d e t e r m i n ed c o n t a c t s and s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s w a s n ot ed.
F i r s t of all,
int e n s i v e an d b r o a d n e i g h b o u r c o n t a c t s do not a b s o l u t e l y e x c l u d e
s i m i l a r l y i n t e n s i v e an d b r o a d c o n t a c t s of f r i e n d s a nd f a m il y. A
c e r t a i n p r i n c i p l e of e l i m i n a t i o n a p p l i e s , h o w e v e r ,
to the c o n ta c t s of f a m i l y a nd f r i e n d s .
It u s u a l l y h a p p e n s t h a t if
the
s p h e r e of i n t e r a c t i o n s is d e v e l o p e d in th e fi r s t sphere of t h o s e
l i s t e d we do not o b s e r v e th i s p h e n o m e n o n in t he s e c o n d s p h e r e the s a m e h a p p e n s in t he o p p o s i t e case.
W h a t is m ore , the level
of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in p r i m a r y s p h e r e s ,
b ot h f a m i l y a nd n e i g h b o u r ,
w e r e p o s i t i v e l y c o r r e l a t e d w i t h the l e v e l of p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in
c o m m u n i t y c o n t a c t s a nd s t r u c t u r e s .
I n v o l v e m e n t in the
activit i e s of the i n t e r m e d i a t e s t r u c t u r e s w a s not r e l a t e d in a s i g n i f i c a n t w a y in any d i r e c t i o n to th e lev el of p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in
the c o m m u n i t y f o r m a t i o n .
I f o u n d t hi s t e n d e n c y
surprising
and
d i f f i c u l t to e x p l a i n .
One c a n n o t e x c l u d e the fa c t t h a t the conc u r r e n c e is on l y s t a t i s t i c a l ,
t h o u g h on th e o t h e r hand , thi s t e n d e n c y c a n be e x p l a i n e d by a c o n c u r r e n c e of f o r m s of s o c i a l li fe
in the p r i m a r y an d c o m m u n i t y s t r u c t u r e s , a nd t h e i r d i s s i m i l i t u d e
w i t h the i n t e r m e d i a t e area.
In the p r i m a r y and c o m m u n i t y s t r u c t u r e s th e i n v o l v e m e n t of th e i n d i v i d u a l do e s not c o n c e r n onl y
o ne rol e or a g r o u p of r o l e s b ut u s u a l l y e n g a g e s the w h o l e p e r sonality,
w h e r e a s in the i n t e r m e d i a t e s t r u c t u r e s th e p a r t i c i p a t i o n d o m i n a t e s t h r o u g h f r a c t i o n a l roles .
It w a s
also observed
tha t t h e r e e x i s t s a w e a k n e g a t i v e c o n c u r r e n c e b e t w e e n the le vel
of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in p r i m a r y c i r c l e s a nd i n v o l v e m e n t in the a c t i v i t i e s of o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,
arid i n s t i t u t i o n s b e l o n g i n g to
the
intermediate formation.
As f o l l o w s f r o m t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s ,
the
p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the p o p u l a t i o n in the lif e of t h e c o m m u n a l l o cal c o m m u n i t y is c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the c o n c u r r e n c e of l e v e l s of
i n v o l v e m e n t for the p a r t i c u l a r f o r m a t i o n s of s t r u c t u r e s .
It is
th u s the s e l e c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n ,
v a r i a b l e in its i n t e n s i t y of
involvement
in the a c t i v i t y of d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s a nd s o c i a l c i r cl e s . T h i s a s s e r t i o n r e m a i n s in c e r t a i n o p p o s i t i o n to the o p i n i o n
propagated particularly
by j o u r n a l i s m a n d c o m m o n
in the a v e r age co n s c i o u s n e s s
tha t p e o p l e u s u a l l y b e l o n g to o n e of the
two
general categories:
e i t h e r of t h o s e w h o a re "by
nature active
everywhere"
or t h o s e w h o ar e "by n a t u r e p a s s i v e " .
This assertion
is r a t h e r c l o s e
to th e s u g g e s t i o n s of
S. O s s o w s k i w h o p o i n t e d to
t he fa c t th a t in c e r t a i n s p h e r e s of life m a n is a c t i v e a nd r e a dy for c h a n g e s w h e r e a s in o t h e r s he is p a s s i v e ,
immobile
and
26
e a g e r to a c h i e v e s t a b i l i z a t i o n
. The p e r c e n t a g e of t h o s e u n i versally active and those completely passive amounted
in
our
studies
to 8% and 12% r e s p e c t i v e l y .
W h e n c o n s i d e r i n g the i m p o r t a n c e of the f e a t u r e s of
social
differentiation
for the l e v e l
of l o c a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n
the
exis-
tence of c e r t a i n s t a t i s t i c a l
o c u r r e n c e s of v a r i o u s f o r c e s and
d i r e c t i o n s w as n o t e d .
With respect
to n e i g h b o u r
in tera ction s it
was
v en
o b s e r v e d th a t the h i g h e r the le v e l of r u s t i f i c a t i o n of a gic o m m u n e , the h i g h e r th e l e v e l of n e i g h b o u r
participation,
w h e r e a s t he h i g h e r
l e v e l of a c t i v i t y
the l e v e l
of
its u r b a n i z a t i o n ,
in n e i g h b o u r h o o d c i r c l e s .
the l o w e r the
T he c o e f f i c i e n t
of
r a n k c o r r e l a t i o n of t h e s e
tw o l a t t e r v a r i a b l e s a m o u n t e d to r
s
=-0.100.
The l e v e l of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in n e i g h b o u r h o o d
contacts
i n c r e a s e d t o g e t h e r w i t h thë w e a l t h of a g i v e n f a m i l y . T h o s e u n d e r
s t u d y w h o h a d h i g h i n c o m e p er p e r s o n and h i g h s t a n d a r d of w e a l t h
m e a s u r e d by t he p o s s e s s i o n of the s o - c a l l e d g o o d s of du ra ble usage r e v e a l e d h i g h e r a c t i v i t y t h a n p e r s o n s of a l o w e r l e v e l of
wealth.
The r e l a t i o n d e s c r i b e d a b o v e w as a ls o n o t e d by P. K r y c z ka in u r b a n m i l i e u s t u d i e s 27 . The f a c t s th u s s u g g e s t
that the
r a n g e of t h e s e t y p e s of r e l a t i o n s is n o t l i m i t e d o n l y to
the
rural community.
A m o n g th e s o c i a l a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l
categories,
the h i g h e s t l e v e l of
2*7
p a r t i c i p a t i o n in n e i g h b o u r h o o d
contacts
w as
S.
0 s s o w s к i, Z z a g a d n i e ń p s y c h o l o g i i
społecznej
( F r o m t he P r o b l e m s of S o c i a l P s y c h o l o g y ) ,
W a r s z a w a 1967.
27 P. К г у с z к a,
Sąsiedztwo i kontrola społeczna.
Prob l e m o d r a d z a n i a się s p o ł e c z n o ś c i l o k a l n y c h w d u ż y m m i e ś c i e
(The
N e i g h b o u r h o o d an d the S o c i a l C o n t r o l ,
the P r o b l e m of R e j u v e n a ti o n of L o c a l C o m m u n i t y ,in a B i g C i t y ) ,
[in:]
Nowe
osiedla
mieszkaniowe.
Ludność - Środowisko mieszkalne - Życie
społeczne
(Ne w R e s i d e n t i a l C o m p l e x e s .
Population - Residential Environment
- Social Life),
W a r s z a w a 1976, p. 114.
d i s p l a y e d by f a r m e r s and far m l a b o u r e r s an d by white-collar w o r k ers of a h i g h s c h o o l or u n i v e r s i t y e d u c a t i o n .
In the i n s t a n c e of i n t e r - f a m i l y c o n t a c t s ,
o nl y the
degree
of f a m i l y r e l a t i o n s h i p and the d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n l o c a l i t i e s d i f f e r e n t i a t e d in a s i g n i f i c a n t w ay the s t u d i e d p o p u l a t i o n .
M or e
f r e q u e n t and b r o a d e r in r a n g e c o n t a c t s e x i s t e d b e t w e e n the f a m i l i e s of the p a r e n t s an d th e i r ad u l t c h i l d r e n ,
and to a l e s s e r
d e g r e e b e t w e e n the s i b l i n g s .
The d e g r e e of f a m i l y r e l a t i o n s h i p s
w h e n i n h a b i t i n g the s a m e s e t t l e m e n t u n i t p o s s e s s e s
a
greater
s i g n i f i c a n c e than the p h y s i c a l s p a t i a l
d i s l o c a t i o n of f a m i l i e s .
The level of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in i n t e r m e d i a t e s t r u c t u r e s
was
d i f f e r e n t i a t e d in
a s i g n i f i c a n t way
by s u c h
features
as:
the
level of u r b a n i z a t i o n of the c o m m u n e ,
the s o c i a l
and p r o f e s s i o nal a f f i l i a t i o n ,
education,
th e a m o u n t of i n c o m e p er p e r s o n
in
a f a m i ly, and the le vel of w e a l t h of the f a m ily m e a s u r e d by the
v a l u e of p o s s e s s e d g o o d s of d u r a b l e usag e.
The s t r o n g e s t c o n n e c ti o n of
statistical concurrence
e x i s t e d b e t w e e n the lev el of
p a r t i c i p a t i o n and the level of e d u c a t i o n as w el l as of
social
and p r o f e s s i o n a l a f f i l i a t i o n .
The d i r e c t i o n of this fi rst
corr e l a t i o n was p o s i t i v e and u s u a l l y s i g n i f i e d an i n c r e a s e of the
level of p a r t i c i p a t i o n t o g e t h e r w i t h an i n c r e a s e in the leve l of
e d u c a t i o n (r = + 0. 700 ).
T hi s t e n d e n c y
w as als o o b s e r v e d by M.
Wieruszewska-Adamczyk
in the m o n o g r a p h i c s t u d i e s of the v i l l a a e
28
Zaborów
. W i t h r e s p e c t to the s o c i a l and p r o f e s s i o n a l
affiliation the h i g h e s t
le ve l of p a r t i c i p a t i o n w as d i s p l a y e d by the so-called "bi-professionals",
n ex t the w h i t e - c o l l a r w o r k e r s w i t h out a h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n , as w e l l as p e r s o n s w o r k i n g i n t e l l e c tu a l l y and p o s s e s s i n g a h i g h s c h o o l and h i g h e r th an h i g h s choc l
education.
D e c i d e d l y the l o w e s t
s e n t e d by q u a l i f i e d
workers
le vel of i n v o l v e m e n t
and f a r m l a b o u r e r s .
was
pre-
The f a r m e r s D e -
l o n g e d to the i n t e r m e d i a t e group .
The lev el of p a r t i c i p a t i o n d >
o v e r l a p p i n g w it h ot h e r f e a t u r e s of s o c i a l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s , ip =
w ay c o n s o l i d a t e s them,
thus b e i n g in i t s e l f a s i g n i f i c a n t f e a ture of s o c i a l i n e q u a l i t i e s in the ru ral m i l i e u 2 9 .
28
M. W i e r u s z e w s k a- A d a m с z у к,
Społeczność
wiejska Zaborowa w procesie przemian
(Rur al C o m m u n i t y of Z a b o rów in p r o c e s s of c h a n g e s ) ,
W a r s z a w a 1980, p. 1 24-1? 5.
29
P . S t a r o s t a ,
A. M a j e r ,
Uczestnictwo w organizacjach formalnych a zrónicowanie społeczne ludności
wiejskiej
W h e n it c o m e s
tures oriented
lo w s f r o m
to th e
at the
involvement
commune
o ur s t u d i e s that
in a c t i v i t i e s
community
and
struc-
as an e n t i r e t y ,
if f o l -
to the g r e a t e s t
extent
it is d e t e r -
m i n e d j o i n t l y by t h r e e v a r i a b l e s :
a) the level of u r b a n i z a t i o n
of the c o m m u n e ,
b) the s o c i a l
and p r o f e s s i o n a l
affiliation
of
the p e r s o n s u n d e r s t u d y ana c) th e i r lev el of e d u c a t i o n .
The
l evel of u r b a n i z a t i o n a f f e c t s th e leve l of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in a
t w o f o l d way.
Firstly,
n e e d s of the
vel of s o c i a l
commune inhabitants
if the m i l i e u
is at a low l e and economi'c d e v e l o p m e n t ,
but at the
same
time
it a c c e l e r a t e s
the a r t i c u l a t i o n
of
the
d o e s not le a d to an a c t i v e i n v o l v e m e n t of the p o p u l a t i o n in s o lving problems.
S e c o n d l y , w h e n the le v e l of s o c i a l
a nd e c o n o m i c
d e v e l o p m e n t of th e c o m m u n i t y is h i g h - t h e n its i n h a b i t a n t s e n g ag e m o r e o f t e n in a c t i v i t i e s for the s a k e of t h e i r ow n m i l i e u ,
an d to a l e s s e r d e g r e e ,
articulate
the lo cal n e e d s .
In o t h e r
words,
in c o m m u n e s
of a h i g n e r level
of d e v e l o p m e n t les s is sa i d
about
the loca l p r o b l e m s , and m o r e is d o n e to s o l v e them,
wher ea s in w e a k e r c o m m u n e s a s t r o n g l y d e v e l o p e d la y e r of c o n s c i o u s n e s s is no t a c c o m p a n i e d by b e h a v i o u r a l a c t i v i t y .
It s e e m s to me
that one of the f a c t o r s w h i c h fo r m s t hi s s e c o n d ,
dominant
in
Poland
t e n d e n c y is the e x a g g e r a t e d
substitution
of the
indivi-
d u a l s a c t i v i t y by a s t r i c t l y forma l
a c t i v i t y of
institutions
a nd o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
T h e r e e x i s t s a t e n d e n c y for e a c h a c t i v i t y or
loc al
a c t i o n to be p l a c e d w i t h i n f o r m s of e x i s t i n g b e a u r o c r a t i c
structures.
T a k i n g o v e r the ro l e of the p i a n i s t ,
the d e c i s i o n -maker
and the e x e c u t o r , th e f o r m a l o r g a n i z a t i o n g e n e r a l l y
mits significantly
the i n d i v i d u a l
or g r o u p i n i t i a t i v e th u s
the s a m e tim e r e d u c i n g
the f e e l i n g of s u b j e c t i v i t y
among
liat
the
m e m b e r s of the a c t ion.
F r e q u e n t lack of s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n b e t w e e n
the a im of the i n d i v i d u a l ' s a c t i v i t y and the aim of a c t i v i t y of
the s t r u c t u r e le^ids to the lack of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h the a c tivity
and its e f f e c t s
and in consequence;,
to a p s y c h o l o g i c a l
attitude which releases
the i n d i v i d u a l
in h i s o p i n i o n
from the
f e e l i n g of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
for the e f f e c t s of the a c t i v i t y s i n c e
he is not the m a i n d e c i s i o n - m a k e r and p i a n i s t .
This
lead s
(The P a r t i c i p a t i o n
in F o r m a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s and S o c i a l D i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of the Ru r a l P o p u l a t i o n ) ,
{_i n :3 T- b a d a ń n ad s t r u k t u r ą
społeczną
(Fro m th e S t u d i e s on the S o c i a l S t r u c t u r e ) , Lód ź 1983.
f u r t h e r to an a t t i t u d e of p a s s i v e n e s s an d a n t i c i p a t i o n .
Th is
a t t i t u d e is ab l e to r e s t r a i n a n y a c t i v i t y ,
e v e n in t h e s e m a t t e r s
which
in th e i r e s s e n c e
c o u l d be
s o l v e d w i t h o u t r e f e r r i n g to i n -
stitutional structures.
F r o m the p o i n t of vie w of s o c i a l an d p r o f e s s i o n a l
affiliation, on e can d i f f e r e n t i a t e fi v e l e v e l s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in comm u n i t y a c t i v i t i e s and s t r u c t u r e s
D e c i d e d l y the h i g h e s t
level
of i n v o l v e m e n t is d i s p l a y e d by fa rm e r s .
The s e c o n d p l a c e ,
def i n i t e l y m u c h b e l o w thi s le ve l b e l o n g s
to the rural i n t e l l i g e n t sia and o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s w i t h o u t
high school education;
the
th i r d p l a c e to q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r s l i v i n g in the c o u n t r y
as well
as p e n s i o n e r s ,
p e o p l e on r e t i r e m e n t and p e r s o n s not w o r k i n g p r o fessionally.
The f o u r t h p l a c e in o u r s t u d i e s b e l o n g e d to f ar m
l a b o u r e r s , w h e r e a s th e la st an d l o w e s t l e v e l w a s r e p r e s e n t e d by
" b i - p r o f e s s i o n a l s " and u n q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r s l i v i n g in the c o u n t r y
and not p o s s e s s i n g f a r m l a n d .
Let us add t h a t the d i s t a n c e
betw e e n the level of the fa rmers'
p a r t i c i p a t i o n and the r e m a i n i n g
c a t e g o r i e s was s i g n i f i c a n t .
T h e i r a c t i v i t y w a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y by
a o n e - t h i r d h i g h e r th a n tha t of the s e c o n d c a t e g o r y - the intellig e n t s i a and o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s , and a l m o s t two t i m e s h i g h e r than
the " b i - p r o f e s s i o n a l s "
an d u n q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r s .
The d i s t r i b u t i o n
of l e v e l s of p a r t i c i p a t i o n w i t h r e s p e c t to the l e v e l s of e d u c a tio n p a r t i a l l y c o n f i r m s the p r e v i o u s a s c e r t a i n m e n t .
The h i g h e s t
l e v e l of
p a r t i c i p a t i o n w a s r e p r e s e n t e d by
persons
with
com-
pleted elementary education,
university,
and c o m p l e t e d
hi g h
school education,
w h e r e a s the l o w e s t by p e r s o n s w i t h
incomplete elementary education.
Th e s e c o n c l u s i o n s c o n c u r w i t h th o s e
contained
in s t u d i e s
by B. Z a w a d z k a c o n c e r n i n g
o nl y the
analy-
sis of th e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of c o u n c i l m e m b e r s in c o m m u n e c o u n c i l s .
The a u t h o r s t a t e s tha t "the m o s t a c t i v e i.e. t h o s e m o s t
often
p a r t i c i p a t i n g in s e s s i o n s and c o m m i t t e e s are the
individual
farmers with
e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n , m e n o v e r 40 y e a r s old [... ]
A m o n g the m o s t a c t i v e th e r e are no p e r s o n s f u l f i l l i n g
managing
f u n c t i o n s in th e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l work,
or an y d e c i d e d l y y o u n g
p e o p le :
th e r e are h a r d l y a ny w o m e n .
T h e r e do e s n ot e xis t, h o w ever, any c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n a c t i v i t y in the c o u n c i l and p a r t y
membership;
a m o n g the m o s t a c t i v e c o u n c i l m e m b e r s we
fi nd
b o t h m e m b e r s of the P o l i s h U n i t e d Worker s' P a r t y and U n i t e d
Pea s ants '
ty"30 .
Party
as
w e l l as th o s e
not
belonging
to
any
par-
T a k i n g i nt o a c c o u n t
the p r e s e n t e d h e r e dat a, I b e l i e v e that
on e ca n f o r m u l a t e a g e n e r a l i z a t i o n c o n s t r u c t i n g a t h e o r e t i c a l set
of f e a t u r e s of an i n h a b i t a n t w i t h the h i g h e s t l evel of p a r t i c i p a t i o n in t he lif e of the c o m m u n e c o m m u n i t y .
As r e s u l t s fro m our
s t u d i e s the set of s u c h f e a t u r e s s h o u l d be t h e f o l l o w i n g :
the
p e r s o n s h o u l d liv e in a c o m m u n e of a h i g h leve l of u r b a n i z a t i o n ,
he s h o u l d p o s s e s s e l e m e n t a r y or h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n , he s h o u l d
be an i n d i v i d u a l f a r m e r of a m e d i u m or h i g h e r ,
but n ot the h i g h est d e g r e e of w e a l t h .
T he set of f e a t u r e s d e p i c t i n g a t h e o r e t i c a l
i m a g e of a p a s s i v e m a n w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e f o l l o w i n g :
f i r s t of
all, he is an u n q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r w i t h
c o m p l e t e d e l e m e n t a r y or
lower than high school education,
p o s s e s s i n g the l o w e s t e c o n o m i c
s t a t u s and l i v i n g in a c o m m u n i t y of a low le v e l of u r b a n i z a t i o n .
K e e p i n g in m i n d the a r t i f i c i a l i t y of the p r e s e n t e d a b o v e t y p e s
of an a c t i v e a nd p a s s i v e c i t i z e n
in the m i l i e u of th e
studied
c o m m u n e s , o ne n e e d s to p o i n t to the f a c t s th a t the l i s t e d features m a y c o n s t i t u t e c e r t a i n p r e m i s e s for d e f i n i t e s o c i o - t e c h n i c a l
solutions
in the r a n g e of lo c a l a c t i v a t i o n of the rur al m i l i e u .
I b e l i e v e th a t in v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s and a c t i o n s o n e c a n m a i n ly c o u n t on the i n v o l v e m e n t of p e r s o n s of no t the l o w e s t and not
the h i g h e s t s o c i a l
s t a t u s s i n c e the r e a l i z a t i o n of v a r i o u s undert a k i n g s p r o b a b l y c o i n c i d e s to the g r e a t e s t e x t e n t w i t h th e i n t e r e s t s of t h e s e s o c i a l c a t e g o r i e s .
In t h e f i n a l p a r t of t h i s p a p e r I w o u l d l i k e to s t r e s s that
f r o m the s t u d i e s p r e s e n t e d h e r e t h e r e f o l l o w c e r t a i n c o n c l u s i o n s
w h i c h h e l p us c o m p r e h e n d t h e s o c i a l e s s e n c e of the
structure
w h i c h is the c o m m u n e i t s e lf.
It s t i l l r e m a i n s an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
u n i t a nd a p l a c e of i n h a b i t a t i o n w h e r e i n s t i t u t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e s
o r g a n i z e c e r t a i n b e h a v i o u r s of the p e o p l e .
At the p r e s e n t
mom e n t it d o e s not c o n s t i t u t e an i n t e g r a t e d lo cal c o m m u n i t y s i n c e
the l o c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h i c h act w i t h i n its f r a m e s are not suff i c i e n t l y i n t e g r a t e d w i t h e a c h o t he r,
a nd t he p a r t i c i p a t i o n does
not b r i n g a b o u t a b r o a d e r a nd m o r e i n t e n s i v e p r o c e s s of i n t e g 30
B. Z a w a d z k a ,
Gminny organ przedstawicielski
(The
C o m m u n a l R e p r e s e n t a t i v e B o d y),
" P r o b l e m y R ad N a r o d o w y c h " (The P r o b l e m s of N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l s )
1978, No. 41, p . 46-47.
rating
the p o p u l a t i o n . On the o t h e r
hand, the
population
quite
o f t e n m a k e s us e of the c o m m u n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s y s t e m ,
and o ne c a n n ot e x c l u d e
the p o s s i b i l i t y
th a t in the f u t u r e it m a y c r e a t e a
m o r e l a s t i n g m e c h a n i s m of i n t e g r a t i o n .
Paweł Starosta
UDZIAŁ MIESZKAŃCÓW
W ŻYCIU WIEJSKIEJ ZBIOROWOŚCI LOKALNEJ
W n i n i e j s z y m o p r a c o w a n i u p o d e j m u j ę p r ó b ę o d p o w i e d z i na n a s t ę pujące pytania problemowe:
1) J a k i e w z o r y u c z e s t n i c t w a w i e j s k i e j l u d n o ś c i
dominują
w
różnych układach kontaktów społecznych
i struktur funkcjonujących
w r a m a c h z b i o r o w o ś c i gmi ny.
2) C z y w y s o k i e m u p o z i o m o w i u c z e s t n i c t w a w j e d n y m u k ł a d z i e kontaktów społecznych odpowiada równie wysoki poziom zaangażowania w
układach pozostałych.
3) Ja k ma s i ę g l o b a l n y p o z i o m u c z e s t n i c t w a w ż y c i u w i e j s k i e j
z b i o r o w o ś c i t e r y t o r i a l n e j do w y b r a n y c h c e c h z r ó ż n i c o w a n i a s p o ł e cz n e g o , t a k i c h jak:
p r z y n a l e ż n o ś ć s p o ł e c z n o - z a w o d o w a , d o c h o d y pieni ę ż n e ,
poziom zamożności materialnej,
poziom
wykształcenia,
p r z y n a l e ż n o ś ć do e k o l o g i c z n e j s t r e f y z a m i e s z k a n i a w g m i n i e
oraz
p o z i o m u r b a n i z a c j i gminy.
Na p o d s t a w i e u z y s k a n y c h w y n i k ó w z b a d a ń e m p i r y c z n y c h p r z e p r o w a d z o n y c h w 1978 i 1984 r. k o n k l u d u j ę , że w ś r o d o w i s k u
wiejskim
d o m i n u j e u c z e s t n i c t w o s p o ł e c z n e o p a r t e na w z o r a c h w ł a ś c i w y c h dla
gr u p n i e f o r m a l n y c h i p i e r w o t n y c h .
T e g o typ u s t r u k t u r y są g r u p a m i
odniesienia
dla m i e s z k a ń c ó w . P o z i o m y a k t y w n o ś c i w r o z m a i t y c h uk ł a d a c h k o n t a k t ó w s p o ł e c z n y c h n i e są w o b e c s i e b i e z u p e ł n i e z b i e ż ne. N a t o m i a s t g l o b a l n y p o z i o m u c z e s t n i c t w a
jes t z b i e ż n y z o k r e ślonymi zmiennymi, niezależnymi w rozmaitym stopniu,
w niejednorodnym kierunku.