Europeanisation of the cultural space of Upper Silesia

Abstract

The article presents européanisation of Upper Silesia. It covers many aspects: historical, economic, ethnic, ecological and cultural. Historical-political context results from the border character of the region formed in result of changing national, administrative and cultural dependence of the region. The strongest European impulse reached Poland together with industrialisation and capitalist economy development and later with socialist industrial development and conditions of restructuring of the traditional region. Upper Silesia, as a border region, has its ethnic conditions, which created specific regional awareness. The problem is of great, not only European but also historic meaning, but it is also a current one due to the desire to establish “small motherlands”, especially in Upper Silesia. An ecological-economic context is also important as mining and steel industries have created a specific cultural landscape with objects of industrial culture. Hence, they have become the heritage of civilisation and technological development.