Obywatelskie transformacje na Górnym Śląsku

Abstract

Considerations constitute an attempt to use already -existing conceptions of a civil society in the analysis of society of Rybnik, one of Upper Silesia towns. The article characterizes a “Silesian citizenship” from the perspective of the realization of the postulates of a civil society by the inhabitants of Upper Silesia. The author tries to answer the question if there are any traditions which influence the specificity of civic attitudes in this area of Poland, and tries to show the factors shaping the condition of a civil community under discussion. Apart from theoretical references to conceptions of a civil society and social wealth, the results and discussions of empirical studies conducted over years in Upper Silesia illustrating the specificity of a civil society in this region were presented. General conclusions from the analyses were formulated in the form of a diagnosis of chances and threats for the existence of a civil society in this part of Poland.