Wartości - pracy, rodziny i religii - ciągłość i zmiana : socjologiczne studium społeczności śląskich

Authors:

• Urszula Swadźba

Abstract

The subject of analysis is Silesian values, their origin, strengthening and weakening, as well as current duration and change in Silesian communities. The analysis concerns Silesian communities in the areas of industrial Upper Silesia which, before the World War II belonged to Poland. The very area is culturally homogeneous and has underwent changes of this type. The book consists of three parts, a theoretical, historical and empirical one. The first part discusses theoretical conceptions of values on sociological ground. What was particularly characterized was Ronald Inglehart’s conception of changes of the value system, and transition from materialist to postmaterialist values. A definition of Silesian values, and author’s own conception of changes of Silesian values was stated, as well as research questions and methods of answering them. Values of work, family and religion of the Polish society in the light of the studies of Polish sociologists starting from the end of the 1950s to our times were presented. A historical part consists of two chapters where the origin of Silesian values in the second half of the 19th century was presented, and, subsequently, a consolidation of values in the Inter‑war period. Next, the evolution of Silesian values in the period of real socialism and systemic transformation was discussed. An empirical part was based on the field studies in three Silesian communities, that is a Katowice district of Bogucice, Rydułtowy near Rybnik as well as Gostynia and Wyre in Wyry. It contains a characteristic of the communities in question, and, successively, their structural analysis. A special emphasis was put on self‑declaration of religiousness and ethnic identification. Next chapters show changes and duration of the value of work, family and religion. The analysis used a previously introduced topology of values, taking into consideration R. Inglehart’s conception, and the attempt was made to determine to which extent the very communities head for a direction following postmaterialist values. Also, the stages of the evolution of Silesian values and their mutual influences were show. The universality of conclusions from studies concerning the whole Polish society, as well as Silesian specificity was presented. The analysis of the three values under investigation in Silesian communities allowed for formulating a hypothesis complementing R. Inglehart’s theory.