Pamiętniki konkursowe oraz współczesne wywiady jako komplementarne źródła do badania chłopskiego doświadczenia reformy rolnej

Author(s): Anna Wylegała / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2022

This paper compares materials submitted in diary competitions and contemporary biographical interviews as sources for analysing peasants’ experience of the communist agricultural reform in Poland (1944). 69 interviews conducted between 2017 and 2019 are compared with three competitions: “Opis mojej wsi” [A description of my village] (1948), “Nowe pamiętniki chłopów” [New peasant diaries] (1955) and “Mój rok 1944/1945” [My year 1944/1945] (1969). The author reveals what kind of people wrote the diaries, the form these diaries took, what topics they featured and which went uncovered, and why the diaries are insufficient in themselves as source material for such research. The article reflects on the specificity of the diaries as an induced narrative, and presents the options for a critical approach to their analysis. The second part of the text shows how the interviews supplement the diaries.

NIE-LUDZKIE SOJUSZE, WIEDZA MILCZĄCA I „CZUCIE WODY” WYTWARZANIE OLIMPIJCZYKA W PERSPEKTYWIE TEORII AKTORA-SIECI

Author(s): Krzysztof Janas / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2022

The article attempts to apply actor-network theory to the field of sport. As a former competitive swimmer and currently a head coach of one of the best Polish swimmers, the author shows that sport is constructed not only by social, economic, and cultural conditions, but also in interactions and negotiations with various actors. He also describes how, by tinkering with his environment, establishing associations with human and non-human training partners, and by referring to tacit knowledge, the athlete achieves their goals such as participation in the Olympic Games. The paper shows that following the athlete through their process of training can provide new insights into competitive sport: how it is conceived and practised, and its social and technical aspects. By taking a closer look at the swimmer’s preparation, the author attempts to break down what athletes and their coaches actually do during training.

PROCESY MONOPOLIZACJI I PAŃSTWO W MYŚLI NORBERTA ELIASA

Author(s): Borys Cymbrowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2022

The main aim of the article is to discuss the concept of the European state in Norbert Elias’ works. Elias’ major books, The Court Society and The Civilizing Process, contain an interesting concept of the state, which to some extent is similar to interpretations of the state found in postwar works on historical macrosociology (especially those written in the US), but also has special features and is thereby in keeping with the originality of the Eliasian oeuvre. Sources used by Elias in his analysis of the state are highlighted in the article, especially those that also became important for other historical sociologists studying the development of the state. Attention focuses on early modernity, and in particular on absolutism as a form of government crucial to the development of centralised administrative institutions.

Sport and deradicalization: a proposal for an analysis and prevention model

Author(s): Nico Bortoletto,Daniela Grignoli / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2022

Based on Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological model, this article focuses on the multidimensionality of radicalization and its relationship with community culture by observing the problem of social isolation. In this framework, sports provide contexts in which forms of social collaboration are necessary, the “rules of the game” must be embraced, and there is close interaction among fellow players. These characteristics can turn organized sports into observatories on (potential) juvenile radicalization through identifying “early warning signals” that are mainly detected by observing those conducts that may reveal a potential risk. In the provided extensive literature review, it comes that these signs can be traced, for instance, in the lack of self-esteem, in the absence of significant bonds, in the intolerance towards values, as well as in extreme introverted behaviour of the young subjects. Alongside such premises, this paper aims to understand whether and to what extent it is possible to hypothesize the shaping of strategies able to prevent radicalization in various contexts. Alongside such premises, this paper is aimed at understanding whether, and to what extent, it is possible to hypothesize the shaping of strategies able to avert radicalisation in various contexts, prevention based on the idea that the interaction between the individual and the environment—in the sense provided by the Chicago School—is heavily influenced by the progressive adaptation of human organism to its surrounding environment.

The evolution of the concept of information warfare in the modern information society of the post-truth era

Author(s): Patrycja Bryczek- Wróbel,Maciej Moszczyński / Language(s): English Issue: 13/2022

Objectives: Compare selected concepts of information warfare and show the evolution of the Western concept of WI,resulting from the development of the information society, social-media and the resources by which information warfare is conducted. Methods: The research method used is a systematic review of Western political science literature, as well as military literature, publications on international relations, international politics, security and cyber security from the perspective of information warfare. Techniques such as analysis of background material, causal analysis and scientific and self-observation in this area were used, taking into account the dynamics of technological and geopolitical changes occurring in the modern information society. Results: The analysis made it possible to show the evolution of the Western concept of information warfare and outline the main differences from the concept of information warfare adopted by the Russian Federation. The study also points out the threats to the information society posed by the realities of modern information warfare. Conclusions: The Western conception of WI differs from that of the Russian Federation, placing the emphasis on WI as technological warfare, while the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China (PRC) place the emphasis on psychological warfare first. This discrepancy could pose a significant threat to the information environment of Western democracies, since the weakest link in the security of not only an information system, but also an information system, is the human being. This is well known not only to hackers, cyber criminals, but also to hostile state or non-state forces that conduct WI against Western countries.

Is Europe’s democracy in crisis?

Author(s): Filip Kostelka / Language(s): English Issue: 01+02 (55)/2023

Like their predecessors in the 1920s and 1930s, today’s populists understand that by dividing society and delegitimising their adversaries, they can get away with blatant violations of the democratic rules. They aim to fuel discontent and toxic polarisation, which transform public debate into tribal wars.

“A picture held us captive…”: Or, on what the pandemic has changed and what it cannot change

Author(s): Leszek Koczanowicz / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2022

The article aims to establish how incisive the changes in social reality triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic are. The first part examines the distinctiveness of the current pandemic in comparison with other epidemics, and investigates responses to it from within the humanities. The second part focuses on defining the viable criteria of social change. Two such criteria are provided: change in the world-picture in terms of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy and change in the concept of the reality of reality as proposed by Luc Boltanski. In the following part, these criteria are applied to analyze the debate on the pandemic unfolding in the humanities and social sciences. In the concluding part, the notion of the apparatus (dispositif) is introduced as a useful tool for exploring and depicting the social consequences of the pandemic. When this notion is juxtaposed with the adopted criteria, the epidemic can be seen to change the operative trajectory and the structure of apparatuses and, consequently, to alter the world-picture and the reality of reality as it progresses. While what durable changes (if any) the pandemic will cause cannot be established with any certainty, it can definitely be expected to enhance the social and political processes which had commenced before its outbreak. In this regard, the epidemic has produced one crucial change; specifically, communitarians are clearly getting the upper hand over liberals in the long-standing dispute between the two.

Pro řešení krize bydlení nestačí reformovat kapitalismus: Rozhovor s Markem Gottdienerem

Author(s): Václav Orcígr / Language(s): Czech Issue: 2/2023

The Unannihilable – Zygmunt Bauman as Analyst and Ambassador of Ambivalence

Author(s): Michael Hviid Jacobsen / Language(s): English Issue: 11/2022

In Zygmunt Bauman’s work, ambivalence was a topic that recurred explicitly several times in his analyses of modernity and later liquid modernity. This was particularly evident in his book Modernity and Ambivalence (1991). But ambivalence also appears as an underlying theme in later books on life in liquid-modern society. Moreover, Bauman’s sociological perspective itself oozes ambivalence, and many of the topics he explored and embraced throughout his career – such as freedom, morality, immortality and utopia – are themselves fundamental expressions of ambivalence. In addition, Bauman always insisted that the world is not fixed once and for all, but that humans can challenge and change it, and in this way ambivalence is not an ailment to be cured but rather a fact to be accepted. This article explores the theme and leitmotif of ambivalence in the writings of Bauman. The article seeks to provide a concise presentation and discussion of Bauman’s continuous engagement with ambivalence in order to show that sociology perhaps ought to take the topic of ambivalence more seriously than is currently the case.

SOCJOLOGIA WOBEC DESIGN THINKING

Author(s): Łukasz Afeltowicz,Seweryn Rudnicki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

Design thinking (DT) is emerging today in many contexts – from business to education to social innovation – as an attractive method for solving a broad range of problems. However, despite its popularity and the fact that the approach utilises concepts and research methods borrowed from sociology and other social sciences, it has received surprisingly little attention within sociological reflection. The purpose of this article is to fill this gap by discussing the main assumptions of the design thinking approach, and first and foremost by making a sociological critique of it and presenting possible options for how sociology as a discipline might react to its popularity. The article is discussion-based and inspired by research in science and technology studies (STS), the critical approach in sociology, and Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of the institutional field. The results of the analysis presented here show in what sense design thinking can be attractive to sociology as a discipline - not just as a certain set of tools, but as a different and at the same time inspiring cognitive perspective (accepting provisionality and pragmatism), pursuing to some extent the agenda of synthetic sociology. At the same time, the article shows that the approach is susceptible to criticism for operating with simplistic assumptions, for being solutionist, and for its entanglement in socio-economic dependencies.

Concept of Social Responsibility in the Context of the Russia-Ukraine Military Conflict

Author(s): Tatyana Khraban / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The aim of the article is to study the Ukrainians’ understanding of social collective and individual responsibility in the context of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict. Research methods and materials. Discourse analysis was selected as the most suitable method. The research material was publications and comments posted on Facebook in the period from 24.02.2022 to 15.05.2022 by Ukrainian social media users. Results and discussion. Although in the Ukrainian sector of social networks responsibility for military aggression is undoubtedly seen as collective, it is unequally shared among groups. During sharing of collective responsibility Ukrainians distinct two approaches: 1) all citizens of the aggressor country are equally to blame; 2) citizens of the aggressor country may be related to the crime on different scales, so they have different levels of responsibility. In the view of Ukrainians, the main responsibility should be ascribed to those who can be called a “random collection of individuals.” After the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict the concept of personal responsibility has been losing its meaning, and the relationship between an individual, social group and society as a whole is prioritized by collective responsibility. Herewith, it is not the culpable event or action that is emphasized, but the “metaphysical guilt” that is imposed on all citizens of the aggressor country on the basis of membership in a “vicious” community.

Twórczość jako perspektywa doświadczenia. Synergiczność doświadczeń w twórczości (cało)życiowej

Author(s): Halina Monika Wróblewska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2022

The intention of the author’s study is to show the role of creativity as a perspective of experience in the context of the processes of (whole) life creativity as the need for (self) realization of a human being in development. Creativity and the process of creation – being a coherent unity of thinking, feeling and acting is a kind of full and fulfilled experience. Through the qualitative understanding of human action, man is treated as an entity that creates and transforms the surrounding reality. Each area of activity in which the individual participates is co-created by him. It can be a specific manifestation of synergy (synergy effect), where we obtain multiplied benefits thanks to the skillful combination of the components of the whole. Creativity as a perspective of experience shows the meaning of creative work that gives meaning to life. Creativity (whole) in life was presented as folk art that expresses human psychological needs and as a life story and its expression on the example of the (in) obvious biography of a self-born creator. Creativity (whole) in life, present in folk and self-born creativity confirms its recognition as a personal, social, cognitive and aesthetic value.

WSPOMNIENIE O TOURAINE — EX-CENTRYCZNYM BADACZU RUCHÓW SPOŁECZNYCH (3 SIERPNIA 1925 – 9 CZERWCA 2023)

Author(s): Paweł Kuczyński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

In memoriam: Alain Touraine (3 August 1925 – 9 June 2023)

Refleksje na temat tego, co szczególne i uniwersalne: Jedność i różnorodność w życiu społecznym i teorii społecznej

Author(s): Wolfgang Streeck / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

How do the general and the specific, or unity and diversity, relate to social life and political practice? The essay investigates four areas of social theory that may be fruitfully explored in terms of a constitutive tension between universal and local forces: endogenous institutional change, the role of intermediary organizations in the governance of industrial relations, nation-building, and the origin of capitalist diversity.

DYSKURS, POZNANIE I PRAKTYKI SPOŁECZNE: BOGACTWO JĘZYKOWEJ I INTERAKCYJNEJ POWIERZCHNI

Author(s): DEREK EDWARDS / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

Discursive psychology (DP) approaches discourse not as the product or expression of thoughts or mental states lying behind or beneath it, but as a domain of public accountability in which psychological states are made relevant. DP draws heavily on conversation analysis in examin- ing in close empirical detail how ostensibly psychological themes are handled and managed as part of talk’s everyday interactional business. a brief worked example is offered, in which the intentionality of a person’s actions is handled in the course of police interrogation, in ways that perform police work. Degrees of intentionality are partialled out with regard to specific actions or components of actions, and with regard to how actions are described in ways that map onto how crime categories are defined in law. Cognitive states are generally relevant in discourse in the same manner, as participants’ concerns with regard to action categories and accountability on and for the occasions hey are invoked.

KONSTRUOWANIE PODZIAŁÓW POKOLENIOWYCH W PARASPOŁECZNEJ RELACJI VLOGERA I JEGO ODBIORCÓW

Author(s): Agnieszka Kampka / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2023

The author discusses the discursive conventions used by a selected vlogger in portraying intergenerational differences. The results of a multimodal rhetorical analysis and a study of the reception of vlogs demonstrate that humour (including sarcasm and self-irony), pop culture references and demonstration of objectivity enhance trust in the broadcaster. In addition, recipients identify with the vlogger and accept the interpretations offered by the vlogger. The main generational differences concern modes of communication and attitudes to freedom of choice.

INFORMACIONI SISTEM ZAŠTITE ŽIVOTNE SREDINE SRBIJE: FUNKCIONISANJE, PREDUZETE MERE I SLIKA U MEDIJIMA I JAVNOSTI

Author(s): Nebojša Veljković,Tamara Perunović Ćulić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 53/2023

The information technology revolution has among else led to the accelerated growth of the quantity and availability of accessible data as an indicatior of interactions in the ecosocial system. This study describes how atoms producing pollution translate into bites and digitaly transform into indicators and information. Through the example of the Serbian Environmental Information System, the study also shows how visualisation and effective comunication are applied from the viewpoint of Luhmann’s theory of society. According to Luhmann’s theory, the society consists of closed systems of independent communications which continuously reproduce and develop by repeating their operations. The Serbian Environmental Information System represents a subcategory of the Luhmann’s scientific subsystem and offers an answer to the question why there are, on the one hand, so many scientific facts on pollution, and on the other so few environmental measures that are undertaken. The answer lies in the fact that environmental pollution indicators belong to one social subsystem, while measures are expected to be taken within another social subsystem – law and economy, where each of them strives to preseve uniqueness and remain self-existent. According to Luhmann’s social framework relevant for environmental protection, communication is a social system’s response to environment that offers communicology a chance to examine the phenomena of environmental concerns in a more critical and detailed manner.

Growth Mindset versus Stagnation Mindset

Author(s): Georgiana Corcaci / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2023

This paper delves into the fundamental concepts of a growth mindset and a stagnation mindset, exploring their implications across various aspects of personal and professional development. The dichotomy between these mentalities profoundly influences individuals' attitudes toward challenges, learning, and success. The study aims to elucidate the characteristics of each mindset, examine their impact on decision-making and resilience, and assess how they shape one's approach to learning and achievement. By scrutinizing real-world examples and incorporating insights from psychological studies, this work seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics between a growth mindset and a stagnation mindset. Ultimately, it aims to underscore the significance of fostering a growth-oriented perspective for personal and professional fulfillment

Marginalizált társadalmi csoportok láthatósága kapcsolathálózati szempontból

Author(s): László Vida / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2023

The study examines the segregation of different marginalized social groups – ex-prisoners, gypsies, gays and lesbians, homeless people – and their visibility in society. Using a size generator network method, the study builds negative binomial models to compare the segregation of marginalized groups within a representative sample of 1000 people. The alpha value in these models indicates the level of overdispersion. According to the results, the level of segregation varies between the overall network and the trust network. Specifically, the level of segregation for gypsies is the lowest in the overall network, whereas in the trust network, it is the lowest for gays/lesbians. The segregation of homeless people is extremely high, which is due to the fact that they are confined to their own space. Individuals with low education, belonging to lower classes, living in villages have the smallest network size. However, they have the highest number of marginalized social group members. A smaller network is associated with lower levels of peer support. The lack of weak bonds makes the social network homophilic and „island-like” social exlusions are formed where poverty and vulnerability are typical.

Individuálna autenticita - súčasť nového univerzalizmu?

Author(s): Zuzana Kulašiková / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 2/2010

The paper deals with the issues of immediate interest towards social and political theories and stimulates the need for more intensive discussion. It confronts relevancy of individual authenticity within the process of reformulating basic universal principles in postmodernism which, according to social theoreticians, undergo by crucial transformation. A focus of attention is on the fact that a new form of paradigm related to universalism is coming to its existence and opinions about its optimal forms correspond to requirements of introducing Farrera’s normative ideal of authenticity. The paper takes into consideration the third generation representatives with their opinions on the critical theory.