Economic restructuring and social divisions. On the basis of the old parts of Europe Cover Image

Restrukturyzacja ekonomiczna a podziały społeczne. Na podstawie badań w starych regionach Europy
Economic restructuring and social divisions. On the basis of the old parts of Europe

Author(s): Jolanta Klimczak-Ziółek, Kazimiera Wódz
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: economic restructuring; social conflicts; old industrial regions; biographical narratives.

Summary/Abstract: Abstract: The subject under consideration in this article are the social tensions related to restructuring of old industrial areas of Europe. The analyses presented in this article stem from the results of the studies conducted during three‑years (2008—2011) research project SPHERE (Space, Place and the Historical and contemporary articulations of regional, national and European identities through work and community in economic areas undergoing REstructuring and regeneration). According to the adopted theoretical perspective (Bourdieu, Williams) in the biographical narratives of former residents of settlements in the Dearne Valley workers in England, Nuremberg, in Germany, Zonguldak in Turkey, and Alcoy in Spain and Every and Corbeil-Essonnes in France, and finally in Będzin and Ruda Śląska in Poland, we were looking for residual, dominant and emergent (Williams) cognitive constructs, conflict and social tension. This article consists of several parts: first we try to locate the regions under research against the background of wider economic changes, then we turn to biographical narratives describing area residents (as the articulation of types of conflict their causes and consequences). The third part contains a summary and conclusions.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 123-153
  • Page Count: 31
  • Language: Polish