In Search of the ‘Spirit of Capitalism’: About Normative Mechanisms Responsible for the Organisation of Social Behaviours

Author(s): Łukasz Kutyło / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

The starting point for my reflections was a thesis presented by Max Weber more than one hundred years ago. According to this thesis, a Protestant ethos was an important factor responsible for the spectacular economic growth of Northern Europe. In his own reflections, the German scholar paid attention mainly to both Protestant asceticism, which concentrated the energy of believers on the work they did, as well as on theology, especially Calvinism, which provided explanations for hard work and the accumulation of capital.It seems, however, that in his reconstruction of the Protestant ethos, Weber described universal mechanisms which are responsible for social mobilization in general. The problem is that instead of trying to analyze them, he ultimately concentrated on their cultural manifestations. The main aim of my paper is an identification of these mechanisms. They discipline individuals, or more correctly, they discipline the patterns of playing these social roles, which are functionally significant for initiating and sustaining the mobilization process. In other words, when there is a need in a society to achieve specific goals, including economic ones, it should develop social norms which will be able to bolster the engagement of its members and focus their energy on specific aspects of their life. Moreover, there is a need to prepare non‑normative mechanisms, which increases the probability that members of the society will adhere to these social norms.The reflections in this regard seem to be important mainly for developing states.On the one hand, they should prepare mechanisms which allow them to develop their economies.On the other hand, the members of these states must face many costs associated with their implementation and this problem should also be a part of the discussion.

Application of Latest Technologies in Elimination of Communication Pathology in a Hierarchical Organization (The Police)

Author(s): Jacek Dworzecki,Izabela Nowicka,Dominik Hryszkiewicz / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

The paper discusses the issues of management in an organization. The concepts of management and organization as well as selected management models are discusses and examples of pathologies occurring within the police forces are provided. The authors of the paper draw on the experiences of the police forces in Poland.

O wyzwaniach komunikacyjnych socjologii łódzkiej (i nie tylko)

Author(s): Magdalena Nowicka-Franczak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2017

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Kondycja intelektualna i etyczna badacza społecznego

Author(s): Jan Hartman / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2017

Mężczyźni, płeć, praca opiekuńcza – uwagi na temat książki Urszuli Kluczyńskiej Mężczyźni w pielęgniarstwie. W stronę męskości opiekuńczej, Poznań: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu 2017

Author(s): Katarzyna Suwada / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2017

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Wybrane aspekty konwersji semantycznej – przypadek tolerancji

Author(s): Andrzej Stoiński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 48/2017

The text refers to the selected aspects of semantic conversion defined as the process of transformation of the meaning of the terms. This paper deals with the notion of “toleration”. The classic negative tolerance was described as a lack of intolerance. Otherwise, the positive tolerance is often characterized as acceptance, esteem, or affirmation for differences. Such distinction between them has the effect that in the face of the negative theory positive tolerance appears paradoxical. On the other hand, in perspective of the positive theory the classic idea seems to be intolerance. Basing on positive concept may lead to a reductionist alternative: acceptance (esteem, affirmation) – intolerance. In the article the Authoralso considers the problem of connections between toleration and the power of individual. Furthermore, the paper examines simple and complex objects of tolerance and the problem of the person as a subject of toleration.

Świat bez kultury Rozważania na temat konsekwencji rewolucji eugenicznej

Author(s): Katarzyna Gurczyńska-Sady / Language(s): Polish Issue: 48/2017

The intention of eugenicists has always been an attempt to repair the state of society by improving the quality of the so‑called human material. These special social reforms lead from the correction of man – conducted by means of cultivation – to the correction of the world in which he lives and develops. Eugenicists believe that if we take care of the quality of the human body, at the same time, we will take care of the quality of our social life. This article discredits this argument by showing the scarcity of the anthropology hidden in theoretical declarations of eugenicists and the naivety of the allegations about the mechanism of the development of culture. The thesis which says that a new better man creates a new and better world is shown to be as an empty dogma. In place of the standard questions about whether the world without “misfits” would be a better world the article asks the question: How would the designed luxury of total security and prosperity influence people? The answer shows that a community after the eugenic revolution is not what we call a society. The conditions of human development under eugenic treatment are not the conditions of the development of culture.

W poszukiwaniu źródeł międzynarodowej atrakcyjności Szwecji

Author(s): Anna Kobierecka,Michał Kobierecki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 48/2017

The aim of the article is to investigate the selected ways by which Sweden shapes its international attractiveness using culture. The research is empirical and is directed at verification of hypotheses stating that culture should be regarded as an important factor of shaping Sweden’s brand and that the chain of IKEA stores is an extraordinary channel of enhancing Sweden’s national brand with the use of culture. The others that are worth mentioning are the Swedish Institute and the website sweden.se.

Old and New in Vama Veche and 2 Mai

Author(s): Miroslav Taşcu-Stavre,Cristian Bănică / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2014

The article uses as a pretext the doctoral research work belonging to one of the authors (Tascu-Stavre, 2011), a study preoccupied with the institutional transformation of two settlements at the Black Sea. The first section presents the study background and methodology built around the Bloomington School analysis model developed by Elinor Ostrom. Under this model, the research aims to decipher the development trends and specific differences between the two geographically neighboring coastal villages. The second section summarizes the findings of the doctoral thesis and documents the applied nature of the research, as the author was directly involved in the process of re-institutionalization of the development policy in Vama Veche, and therefore had the opportunity to test the applicability of discussed theory in-situ. Starting from the presented material but also from the dilemma of managing the commons, the last section adds some comments attached to the relation between development and urban development, emphasizing the importance of the latter both as common (space) as well as a resource which requires technical and ethical management.

Socio-demographic analysis in spatial planning

Author(s): Raluca Petre / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

An absolutely essential component of any process developed to achieve social development is the spatial development planning. The population is the generating element of the initial pulse in the system of planning and the reason for being of the whole process. It is the element through which and for which the system works. The analysis of population issues must lead to specific conclusions and the formulation of scenarios with specific demographic forecast methods. Knowing the probable development of population by various characteristics, especially the labor resources and the workforce, is necessary for substantiating economic and social development programs.

Paulina Matera, Rafał Matera: The four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Remarks on the book The great leveler. Violence and the history of inequality from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century by Walter Scheidel. Princeton-Oxford: Princeton University

Author(s): Paulina Matera,Rafał Matera / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

This article constitutes a review of the book “The great leveler” written by Walter Scheidel. Werefer to the issue of constructing theories and pointing out the regularities in history. We present thescientific background of the author, as well as his inspirations from other publications of a similarkind, notably “Capital in the twenty-first century” by Thomas Piketty. We analyse the elements ofScheidel’s thesis that the levelling of income inequalities within the framework of states may comeabout only from violent shocks: mobilization warfare, transformative revolution, state failure, andlethal pandemics. We comment on each of these factors, offering a critical approach to the author’sinterpretation and directions for further research. We also argue that for the studies of incomedisparities the estimation of data about the middle class is crucial, as the lack of or small scope ofit is the most dangerous for domestic stability. The estimations of the top 1% of the richest meansless in this context. We also propose a greater focus on the impact of welfare politics in democraticstates. However, we highly appreciate the author’s thoroughness in compiling such a greatamount of data as well as his logical argumentation, which make his work valuable, convincing,and intellectually stimulating.

Urban characteristics and homelessness in Bucharest

Author(s): Mirela Paraschiv / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2013

Urban poverty continues to prove itself a concern in cities’ territorial planning as it disrupts the quality of life and the development process in some cities. Homelessness emerges sometimes as extreme urban poverty even in developed European Union countries. The study assesses Bucharest urban space to differentiate characteristics that influence the homeless to locate in certain places. The analysis included a three-level urban space categorization. Functional types of space were correlated to homelessness presence according to three space characteristics: property type, physic`al structure and state of use. The main findings argue that homeless people localization in Bucharest depends on urban space capacity to meet homelessness housing and living needs. Analysis’ conclusions evidence homeless location patterns to urban planners and authorities that may use the information to improve policies and actions to alleviate extreme poverty in Bucharest.

Indicele calităţii locuirii – instrument de evaluare a calităţii locuirii urbane

Author(s): Daniel-Gabriel Valceanu,Laura Zulaica / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 4/2012

Housing Quality Index (HQI) is an analysis tool of urban housing and its assessment of the quality. Development of this indicator based on positive or negative impact that present the main statistical indicators of housing variables completes a series of international research in this direction and define the urban areas according to specific quality issues. Statistical analysis, correlated with social research methods and territorial identification of the main failures of housing contributes to the urban zoning areas and establishes the new research directions in the building of index that gives the expected results of all involved in the implementation of appropriate measures to improve the quality of housing conditions.

Consultarea publicului în documentaţiile de amenajarea teritoriului şi urbanism. Studiu de caz: Zonele Construite Protejate ale Municipiului Galaţi

Author(s): Raluca Petre,Constantin CHIFELEA / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 2/2012

The use statistical databases in urban and spatial planning is a necessity and a handicap of such documentation, large scale plans requires a large number of indicators, but their structure does not correspond fully in spatial planning. One of these methods of obtaining data to produce the most appropriate indicators is the participatory approach, based on engaging communities and groups in planning and decision making. The “Methodology for informing and consulting the public in the development or revision of spatial and urban plans" issued by order of Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism, bring an improvement in the completion of these plans. In the substantiation studies conducted for Zone Urban Plan of the protected built area of Galaţi, a consultative method was chosen, based on a sociological survey questionnaire. It was found that the most serious problems are the renovation of heritage buildings, traffic congestion and water quality. The largest gaps identified in the study area are: lack of affordable housing, roads and air quality, public transportation, cultural life and shopping areas. Thus, the Galatians have prioritized the investment potential of the CBA; as a priority resulting into the rehabilitation of urban areas (streets, buildings, squares) and modernization of infrastructure.

Popękane polskie społeczeństwo jako pole badawcze – dane, fakty, mity

Author(s): Mikołaj Cześnik,Mirosława Grabowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

W artykule analizowana jest problematyka popękania społeczeństwa polskiego. Pojęcie to odnoszone jest do tradycyjnych pojęć socjologicznych opisujących zróżnicowania społeczne: podziałów klasowych, podziałów społeczno-politycznych, zróżnicowania stylów życia czy wzorów konsumpcji, nieciągłości dyskursu społecznego. Krótki przegląd stanowisk teoretycznych, od Marksa i Webera aż po Bourdieu, dopełnia bardziej wnikliwa prezentacja dokonań polskich autorów – klasycznych i współczesnych. Jako pole analiz popękania społeczeństwa polskiego wskazuje się: po pierwsze, „klasyczne” podziały wynikłe z różnic w położeniu w strukturze społecznej; po drugie, „nowe” podziały związane z konsumpcją i stylami życia; po trzecie, podziały społeczno-polityczne (rozumiane zgodnie z koncepcją Lipseta i Rokkana); po czwarte, obszar języka, komunikacji, dyskursu. Dalej następuje dyskusja uwzględniająca zarówno koncepcje teoretyczne, jak i – w miarę możliwości – dane empiryczne z czterech wskazanych pól popękania społeczeństwa polskiego. Sformułowane wnioski mają charakter nieostateczny. Obecnie podziały o charakterze klasowo-warstwowym nie zanikają, konsumpcja wykazuje zarówno klasowo-warstwowe zróżnicowanie, jak i jednorodność przekraczającą granice grup społecznych, elektoraty się krystalizują, zaś podziały w sferze języka wydają się wyraziste. Ponadto istnieją pewne zależności struktury klasowej, sfery konsumpcji i zachowań politycznych, z którymi łączą się podziały w sferze języka i dyskursu. Sytuacja wydaje się jednak dynamiczna.

Sfera publiczna trwale warunkowana. Studium przypadku powiatowej debaty publicznej w ujęciu morfogentycznym

Author(s): Piotr Weryński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

This article analyzes the morphogenetic conditions surrounding the functioning of the public sphere at a local level, and identifies barriers to its development in Poland within the context of emergent social structures (interests) and culture (ideas, values). Such a context expresses the cultural, social, and economic dominance of one social stratum - the intelligentsia. Based on the ontological and epistemological assumptions of the theory of morphogenesis, this paper presents a case study of public discourse in Tarnowskie Góry. Qualitative field data (participant observations), elements of critical discourse analysis, and Jürgen Habermas’s assumptions of the ideal speech situation are utilized.

Zróżnicowanie postaw wobec konsultacji społecznych w Polsce jako przejaw regionalnego zróżnicowania tradycji obywatelskich

Author(s): Arkadiusz Peisert / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

This article presents the not new, but still fascinating, subject of the impact of regional differences in Poland on civic attitudes and behaviour. It is based on the assumption that the territories subject to the Prussian Partition, the Russian Partition or the Austrian Partition, respectively, of Poland in the 19th century still have very important differences in their civic traditions in today’s Poland.The so called Northern and Western Territories incorporated into Poland after WWII (and formerly belonging to Prussia) are a separate issue and are discussed separately.In the article, the main indicator of this differentation consists of the attitudes and behaviours with respect to social consultations. This article utilises outputs of the research into civic participation which was carried out within the framework of the programme “Let’s decide together”, financed byEuropean Union and accessed thanks to the Foundation of the Public Affairs Institute in Warsaw.

Autoetnografia 2.0

Author(s): Krystian Darmach / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

This text is a methodological diary—a meta-autoethnography, an attempt to report on the course and formation of auto-reflection on various aspects of autoethnography in the broad sense. It is the reinterpretation of selected fragments of the author’s own texts of an autoethnographic profile, and a description of the process by which the concept of the essay emerged. It addresses the role of autoethnography in the anthropological cognitive process and autoethnography’s contemporary methodological status. The author intends to show how his reflections were shaped and to open the door to the scholar’s “kitchen” by describing how the questions, phrases, and ideas inscribed in his notebook served as departure points for further reflection and representation in the essay. He tells how his thoughts were structured, what reading and ideas inspired him, and finally, how these often laconic, fragmentary, and disorganized notes and observations brought together the issues and themes worthy of anthropological expansion and consideration.

Rozum czy emocje?

Author(s): Anna Kacperczyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

In this article, the author discusses the limits of analytical and evocative autoethnography as described by the creators of these concepts and by scholars who embark on autoethnographic projects. The author attempts to answer the question of whether it is possible to move freely between the fields of analytic autoethnography and evocative autoethnography. Can rechercher freely combine analytical and evocative motifs within the framework of the autoethnographies he create? What are the fundamental differences between these approaches? What indicates the analyticality or the suggestiveness of the autoethnographic text? For whom and what are such divisions necessary? These considerations correspond to the practical problems appearing in the application of the autoethnographic approach in contemporary social research.

Doświadczenia zmysłowe w życiu codziennym

Author(s): Przemysław Rura / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

The author presents a research approach that he defines as multisensory autoethnography. He proposes that it should be used for the study of sensory experiences in everyday life, as an important aspect of micropractices. The article is composed of three parts. In the first, the research context is described in reference to the tradition of the sociology of everyday life. The second part discussed the theoretical and methodological approaches that are the basis for autoethnography in general. The third part contains a description of the method proposed by the author. The three assumptions of the method are (1) the personal experience of the researcher, (2) interpersonal communication abilities, and (3) the attempt to grasp the fullest picture of the practices and sensory experiences of the researcher and the persons studied.