Źródło i dynamika kapitału kulturowego Śląsaków
The sources and dynamics of the Silesians' cultural capital

Summary/Abstract: The article presents a dispute over Silesian cultural identity. The author indicates peasant and working-class roots of the Silesians’ culture. They form a regional community sharing a sense of wrong following their cultural marginalization and economic exploitation. Silesian ethos has been mythologized and their social role has been marginalized. The complexity of the transformations within the contemporary Silesians’ culture is being unnoticed. Their ethos and aspirations are constantly diversifying. Part of them aims for the recognition of a separate Silesian nationality and regional autonomy. The majority remains passive but certain part is subject to social pathologies. Changes of ethos are also connected with the increase in educational aspiration. Better educational qualifications among Silesians raise hope for modern activation beyond traditional industry. The rising acceptance of multicultural Silesians’ identity and their right to develop a regional language (Silesian dialect) is a positive phenomenon. The result of Silesians’ new aspirations and at the same time a cultural dilemma is a movement either towards a subculture or an autonomous regional culture which would create Silesian nationality.

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