Cultural Borderland in sociological and political perspective : (the case of Upper Silesia)

Abstract

"The text that I submit contains sociological reflection upon the multidimensional concept of borderline region. My paper is also another attempt at reinterpretation of results of empirical studies carried out in Upper Silesia in the years 1985—1996, the region being a typical, in my opinion, case of cultural borderline (Szczepański, 1991; Błasiak, Nawrocki, Szczepański, 1994; Szczepański, ed., 1993; Szczepański, ed., 1993, a; Szczepański, ed., 1994; Szczepański, ed., 1994, a; Szczepański, ed., 1995; Szczepański, ed., 1996). Their summarizing recapitulation needs to be preceded by at least a preliminary analysis of key words and notions, which constitute the internal logic of the paper and its organization. Those notions constitute a triad, based on similarity or closeness of meanings (borderland — geographic borderland — cultural borderland)." (fragm.)