RURAL POPULATION ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY – OPINIONS OF SELECTED LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN LUBLIN PROVINCE

Mieczysław Adamowicz, Ewelina Dresler

ABSTRACT

In the paper, the authors have presented the results of the survey conducted on the households of the Lublin province. The number of the households that have been investigated, totals 624. On the basis of the data that was obtained, it could conclude that the rural areas in Poland have considerable potential for growth. The sense of rootedness, which is the point of departure of the local development, is fairly strong among the peasant families. Vast majority of the people living in the country expresses the will to take action in order to improve the standard of living, and is inclined to devote a great deal of their free time to achieve it. It seems that the education of the local leaders is the necessary element in the construction of the civil society. The survey shows that the inhabitants of the rural areas want to solve their problems together and upgrade the life standard, yet they virtually do not know how to do it and how to begin. They need leaders who would show them the directio

Key words: civil society, rural areas, local leaders, rural communities..

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays the revival of the conception of a civil society is observed. There is a wide variety among definitions of a civil society. Yet, two major tendencies can be found. The first one is focused mostly on individuals’ involvement in public matters, the second one, on the activities by individuals, which are not conditioned by the state [1,3,4].

This paper takes into consideration the second tendency, accounting mostly for the conditions of transformation from passive attitudes to the active ones. It seems worth remembering now that one of the major principles accompanying the idea of a civil society, namely, the principle of subsidiarity, means that“ all decisions by the state concerning its citizens and related to their social environment (a family, informal groups, a local community) should be taken at the lowest and closest to the citizens levels”. Higher levels of government should be activated only, if the lower levels fail in fulfilment of their actions. Such an approach means that an individual is equipped with a high range of freedom and autonomy. The fulfilment of the idea of subsidiarity facilitates the process of transformation: from citizens - customers to a civil society [2,5,7,8,9].

The direction for the development in the Polish model of a civil society seems to be indicated by two basic groups of factors:

1. The transformation of a system and all consequences related to it,

2. An integration with EU and globalisation processes.

The transformation of the system made it possible to set up democratic institutions of civil representation as well as market mechanisms. The third, major objective of the transformation was to establish a civil society. This objective seems to have failed mostly. After a period of an increased growth in non- governmental organizations at the beginning of 90’s, there is observed stagnation now. On the other hand, slowly but systematically the consciousness accounting for the importance of non- governmental organizations’ growth.

According to the UNDP report, Polish rural society of 90’s does not match the pattern of the “ideal“ civil society. A relatively low level of social activity among the rural inhabitants seems to be the outcome of the transformation costs. This is a turn make the rural population focused on their individual, private matters, limiting to a significant degree their involvement in public affairs [6].

Yet, it should be emphasized that despite a relatively low level of activity among the rural population, it is still higher than among the urban one.

METHODOLOGY

The aim of this work is to answer the question: Is it possible to build the civil rural society?

The main hypothesis is: the rural areas in Poland have considerable potential for growth. This potential is expressed in social capital, especially by the sense of rootedness and links with the local people, which is the potential source for the local development.

What is the actual process of building up a civil society in the rural areas like?

The attempts to answer this question may be based on the research conducted on the territory of Lubelskie province, and accounting for 624 households. The research was conducted on the grounds of a project entitled “The role of economic subjects, institutions and local communities in the sustainable development of the country and agriculture”. It resembles parallel researches conducted in Slovakia and Hungary. Following the pattern of Mazowieckie province, the research accounted for four counties selected deliberately:

• Biala Podlaska: a former province town, majority of agricultural economy; close – to - border location by the major transport West -East route;

• Krasnik: agricultural area, fertile lands, fruit farming, influenced by Lublin – province capital;

• Lubartow; agricultural area, intensified development of non - agricultural economy, strongly under the influence of Lublin;

• Tomaszow Lubelski – close - to - border location, varied agricultural economy, territory of former State Agricultural Farms (PGR).

Three communes from each county were selected deliberately, based on the following criteria: a level of income per one inhabitant in PLN, commune’s own income in the income in percentage, and a total number of a commune population (in 1999).

The method of the sample selection was not a random one in the whole. That is why the findings should be considered very carefully while comparing them to the results characterizing the total population. Even though, they cannot be regarded as being representative for the total rural population, the authors assume that they may give grounds for shaping a picture of the society under the research. Some hypothesis may be formed, too. These may be verified in the further course of analysis and research.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

The factors, which may influence the involvement in the local matters, can be found in the feelings of belonging to the motherland, links with the local people, the roots. Emotional relations of the country people to their place of living are presented in the figure 1.

More than 80% of the population feels emotionally linked with the place they live. Only every 10th respondent states that he does not like the place of his living and he would move, if there were a chance. Despite the catastrophic situation in the country, majority of population identifies themselves with their place of living and has the sense of being rooted there.

Interesting findings presenting the dependency between emotional relations to the place of living, and the age and education of a respondent are shown in table 1 and 2.

The findings explicitly show that the elderly are more tied to their home place. Slightly more than a half (55.5%) of the young population states they like their living place, at the same time the age group over 35 presents this attitude in 80%. The sense of belonging and links with the local community depend on the factor of education, however in a lesser degree. Considering the group with secondary education, 70% declares their belonging to the place of living. The population with vocational and primary education presents the figure of 80% of those linked with the home place.

The idea of a civil society lies in the concept of freedom in activity among its citizens on the grounds of subsidiarity, limiting the role of the state to the very minimum.

The findings show that majority of the rural population (65.04%) says that the state should take responsibility for social and economic life. Only every tenth person (9.43%) states that the role of the state should be limited to the minimum. As much as ¼ (25.53%) of the population does not present any opinion. Thus, it may be assumed that such an approach may result from the dominating for the 30 years socialist system of the rule, which made the rural population “be accustomed“ to the “care” of the state over its citizens. Such an approach may seem to be a mark of the nostalgia for the time passed on the one hand, and on the other, a protest against leaving the rural population on their own nowadays. If such mentality is not changed, and the inhabitants of the country are still waiting passively for the state assistance, stagnations and degeneration of the rural population will be proceeding.

The findings presented above follow the factors, which influence the development of a place or a region presented by the rural population. Frequency of their occurrence is presented in table 3.

The situation in the agriculture is the decisive factor of regional development, as the opinions by the respondents show. Nearly 1/5 (18.37%) presents this factor as the most influential. Other factors of great importance are: activity of local governments (17.87%), and economic policy of the state (17.76%). But 34.25% thinks that the commune government is the major force (or a barrier) in local development. State economic policy is, in the opinion of 22.94%, the second important factor.

Considering the concept of a civil society, it is essential to say that only 13.05% indicates the activity of the very people as one of three major factors. Such a response was counted as every fifth. Only every tenth respondent (9.37%) presents the idea that it is his own activity and initiative that might stimulate the local development. Paradoxically, it seems that the rural population looks for the measures for the environment development outside it. The only exception to such an attitude is already mentioned policy of the local governments. But this policy is beyond the area of direct influences by people (only every twentieth person states that he can influence commune matters) (see table 5).

A precise analysis of two potential factors: age and a level of education of the respondent, shows that only second of them have impact upon the emergence of individual activity among the rural population being a major force of local development. As it was anticipated, a better-educated person indicates this factor more often.

Another issue, which confirms the state of rural population passiveness, is related to the forms of assistance, which they expect from the non- profit organizations. The particulars are shown in the table 4.

Among the three major forms of assistance are: job market assistance : the mostly expected – 18.41%, out of which 20.44% states as it is the most important; financial support– 15.85% says that it is one of the three major; indicated by 14.83%. It is worth noticing that nearly the same number of people among the three major expected forms of initiating and supporting the quest for additional work assistance (8.03%) and material support (7.54%). On the grounds of these findings, it can be stated that the rural population would rather be given than be guided and instructed. It expects to be provided with short –term help that does not require from it either any initiative or any involvement.

Consciousness and the sense of having impact upon the local and national policy is another characteristic element of a civil society. The particulars related to it are presented in the table 5.

Only 8.70% of the rural population states that they have an impact upon the matters related to their place of living. No more than ¼ (28.02%) thinks their influence is average. Almost 40% indicates that the impact is low. 1/5 (19.32%) of respondents state that they have no influence at all. The sense of having a significant impact upon the commune policy is presented by only 4.70% of respondents, 38.41% thinks they have low possibilities of influence, 1/3 (34.04) states they have no influence at all upon the commune policy.

The situation looks much worse if the impact upon the state policy is considered. More than a half (59.16%) indicates they have no impact upon the situation in Poland; only every twelfth inhabitant of the country (8.10%) states that he has an average influence upon the national affairs. Only 13 respondents out of 617 under the research think they have a significant influence upon the matters in our country.

Having practically no sense of influence upon the state policy, it is no wonder to state that the findings quoted above justify that the majority of rural population (65%) thinks that the state should actively interfere in social and economic life of the country. It is also a mark of nostalgia for the socialism passed, when a farmer was not left on its own, but provided with support. Today, it is a signal to the ruling elite: the rural population demands a welfare state system which should help the countrymen find their ways in the new social and economic situation. Considering the fact that Poland is not as rich as a welfare state of e.g. Sweden, the way out seems to be a foundation of a civil society where non- profit organizations activate local population, and whose activity is highly evaluated by ¾ (72%) of respondents saying that these organization may assist in the local development. The opinions of ¾ of respondents (74.23%) reveal that more or less formal local initiat ives could improve their living standards and welfare, too.

Another crucial factor contributing to the total picture of a civil society is local potential and proneness for mutual cooperation among people. The particulars are presented in the figure 3.

Nearly 15% presents the idea that they can cooperate well with their co inhabitants. As much as 59% of respondents states that people could do something together, provided they had a leader. ¼ says that people from their home village cannot cooperate at all. If these findings were confirmed by the further research, they might become an essential instruction for the elite, which influence the foundation of a civil society. The findings also show that there is a strong needs to create local leaders being able to increase the local potential.

The prospective high potential of the rural society may be assumed considering the fact that majority of respondents (67.58%) guarantees the will to provide unpaid help for the local community development. More than a half of these declares relatively constant and systematic help: 1/6 (16.73%) would help a few hour weekly, almost the same number would spend one day on work for the local community, ¼ (24.19%) - a few days a month.

To what extend the proneness to unpaid work for the local society is only an empty declaration, or to what extent it is a real will to give help, can be answered while analysing the questioned posed in the table 6.

Mutual help among neighbours is a dominant form of participation in the “life” of a given place. As much as ¾ of the respondents (75.45%) states they often help either their neighbours or other village inhabitants. On the other hand, 65.54% of respondents acknowledge that they take the help provided either by their neighbours, or other people from the vicinity. Participation in the local festivities is also relatively high. 60% states, they sometimes take part in the local events. Other forms of involvement are rare. Nearly 60% of those under the research have never either organized any local events, or been active in the local organizations, or took help from the others (more than 60%). Majority of respondents (65.87%) has never participated in any form of activity aimed at the increase of economic efficiency. Every tenth person (9.0%) sees no profits relating to mutual cooperation and states that people should act individually.

Therefore, it seems that the proneness to giving unpaid work for the local community analysed above is quite exaggerated.

The problem may be approach from a different angle, namely the analysis of the role in which a person under the research would identify himself with while acting for the development of the local community. (N= 513)

Majority of people perceive their role as workmen (64%), and 1/5 (21.53%) as consultants and advisors. Only every fifteenth of respondents (6.85%) would feel satisfied with the role of a leader. Such responses may indicate that the rural population is prone to act for the local community, provided they do not have to show their initiative and creativity. Practically, it means that the people could be involved for the actions for the local community if they were led by an appropriate leader.

The actual condition of the Polish civil society in the rural areas is very well pictured if we consider party and organization membership. The particulars are presented in the figure 6.

More than a half of the respondents declares their either party, or organization membership. It is worth noticing that such an indicator is twice as high as the average national one (on the grounds of OBOP data from 1998: only 1 in 4 adult Polish declared membership to an organization). Very different institutions and organizations seem to be popular –from self-helping organizations to parties. Voluntary Fire Guard is the most popular organization in the country. 1/5 of respondents participate in its activities. Every twentieth woman belongs to Rural Housewives Circle, and 43.4 % acts in a commune cooperative. Polish Folk Party (PSL) is the most popular party organization among the inhabitants: 9% of the respondents are its members.

CONCLUSION

The idea of a civil society is a remedy to cure the weakness of a welfare state system which is not able to cope with steadily growing and more diversified needs of its citizens. The state understood as “an agency proving its citizens with help” becomes less significant, as the international organizations and relationships on the one hand, and local and regional organizations on the other, become more influential policy makers.

On the grounds of the research findings, a very careful inference can be made:

• it is possible to build the civil society in the rural areas,

• the Polish countryside is characterized by high but drowsing potential, which it is not able to awake by its own

The sense of belonging and the roots giving grounds for local development are very strong among the rural population. Majority of village inhabitants express their will to take up cooperative activities for the local community and they are able to devote relatively much time for such actions. Education and training of the local leaders seems to be an indispensable element in the construction of a Polish civic society. As the findings show, the village inhabitants would like to solve their problems together and to increase their living standards, but they do not know how to begin with it and how to proceed. They need leaders who could guide them and make them conscious about their possibilities.

On the grounds of the research, the conclusions that in relation to the rural areas, the idea of a civil society should account for the following, can be made very carefully (as it still requires verification ):

• shaping of consciousness and the sense of having influence upon the local community

• healing the syndrome of “ trained helplessness”

• attempting to change the mentality of village inhabitants in the direction to accept novelty, changes, and to openness

• stimulating village inhabitants in the direction of mutual and common cooperation

• indicating the methods and procedures leading to profitable actions

• educating local leaders who could instruct the less resourceful on how to find themselves in the new situation; and who would motivate and stimulate inhabitants to take care of their local community

To sum up: the rural population is characteristic of a lot of drowsing potential, which it is not able to awake by its own. There is a strong need to have someone who will show the village inhabitants appropriate directions. Therefore, the efforts undertaken to define the local strategies for development by the elites should take into account the principles of a civil society construction. A civic society, which consists of conscious and active citizens. Yet, these inferences require a further analysis and verification in the course of the prospective phases of the research.

REFERENCES

1. Bokajło W., Dziubek K. (ed), 2001: The national society, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw.

2. Encyclopaedia of Sociology, Vol. 1. 2000

3. Gliński P., Lewenstein B., Siciński A. (ed), 2002: Self-organization of Polish society: the third sector. IFiS PAN, Warsaw.

4. Lechwar M., Ślusarz G. (2000): The role of non-governmental organizations in communes development creation. Lower-Poland Advisory Agriculture Centre in Cracov, Branch in Zagłobice, Zagłobice.

5. Milczarek D. (ed.), 1998: Subsidiary. European Centre of Warsaw University, Warsaw.

6. Report of social development Poland 2000. Rural areas development, 2000, UNDP, Warsaw.

7. Sartori G., 1994: The theory of democracy revisited, (translation: Amsterdamski P, Grinberg D., PWN, Warsaw.

8. The rules, programmes and forms of territorial self-government and non-governmental organization co-operations, 1998, Association Academy of Philanthropy Development in Poland.

9. The third sector in European Union. Guide for non-governmental organizations, 2000, Bank of Information about Non-Governemtal Organizations, KLON/JAWOR, Warsaw.

Mieczysław Adamowicz
Warsaw Agricultural University
Faculty of Agricultural Economics
Department of Agrarian Policy and Marketing
Ul. Nowoursynowska 166
02-787 Warsaw
e-mail: adamowicz@alpha.sggw.waw.pl

Ewelina Dresler
State College in Biala Podlaska
Institute of Economics and Management
Ul. Sidorska 95/97
21-500 Biała Podlaska
e-mail: edresler@wp.pl

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed ‘Discussions’ in each series and hyperlinked to the article.