THE ROLE OF RURAL ELITE IN CREATING THE COUNTRYSIDE'S SOCIAL CAPITAL

• Authors: Fedyszak-Radziejowska B.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The article deals with the role of rural elite in creating and activising the countryside's social capital. The article is based on the results of surveys carried out in six rural communes in May-June 2002. Poland's accession to the European Union may mark the beginning of the process of demarginalisation of the country's rural community if individuals and groups can be found that will actively and effectively use opportunities offered them. In accordance with the theses put forward by contemporary sociologists 'social capital' plays the key role in overcoming stagnation in any environment. The author contrasts the rural elite with the remaining inhabitants of the surveyed communes, and tries to answer the question about the condition of the rural elite and its ability to create social ties, associations and the atmosphere of mutual trust. The results of the conducted surveys allow to formulate a thesis that the elite's members are strongly rooted in the rural communities and are potentially able to lead these communities safely through the trauma of transformation thanks to the relatively high level of possessed social capital.

Keywords

EN

DEMARGINALISATION OF RURAL COMMUNITIES; SOCIAL RESOURCES; TRAUMA OF CHANGE

Discipline

• SOCIOLOGY: SOCIOLOGY

• Publisher: Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, Polish Academy of Sciences; www.irwirpan.waw.pl
• Journal: Wieś i Rolnictwo
• Year: 2004
• Issue: 2(123)
• Pages: 28-43
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Fedyszak-Radziejowska B.

• B. Fedyszak-Radziejowska, Instytut Rozwoju Wsi i Rolnictwa PAN, ul. Nowy Swiat 72, 00-330 Warszawa, Poland.

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

04PLAAAA000379