Miasto jako przestrzeń identyfikacji jego mieszkańców

Abstract

The main problem of the article is the inhabitants’ identification with a city. The theoretical background is based on culturalistic issues of the space value expressed by Florian Znaniecki, and social space and urban identity concepts written by Aleksander Wallis. Moreover, the contemporary theory of identity expressed by Gordon Mathews, Ewa Rewers’ distinction of identity and identification, and David Hummon’s concept of the sense of place are also used. Quantitative research, conducted in Gdańsk, Gliwice, and Wrocław in 2015 serves as an empirical point of reference. The analysis shows a high level of satisfaction out of living in a city and a slightly lower level of identification with a city and its inhabitants. The age of respondents influences the identification with city’s inhabitants — the older ones more often identify themselves with other inhabitants. Regardless of the respondents’ age, contemporary changes which take place in cities as well as in the process of the construction of the individual self, the city is still very important space of identification for its inhabitants.