Egalitarne nostalgie: czy stosunek do nierówności dzieli Polaków?
Egalitarian Nostalgia: Do Attitudes Towards Inequalities Divide Polish Society?

Summary/Abstract: Ireneusz Sadowski Instytut Socjologii Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 15-420 Białystok; e-mail: is@spoleczenstwo.pl A decade ago Wojciech Zaborowski has written: „egalitarian attitudes should be recognised as the persistent element of consciousness of the Polish society”. Is that really so? To answer that question I have decided on a twofold approach to the issue: the overview of research on attitudes towards inequalities conducted in Poland since 1956 until first years of transition on the one hand and the analysis of survey data (PGSS) from 1992–2002 period on the other. In this way I try to dissect egalitarian orientations which seem to be important component of the mentality of the Polish society in the process of system transition. I confront the results of undertaken analysis with Walter G. Runciman’s findings, whose research showed crucial role of relative deprivation in explaining egalitarian attitudes. In the light of the general conclusions I try to take a stand on broader issue of legitimization of socio-political system in contemporary Poland.

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