Trust, Confidence, and Social Capital in Poland: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Sociologists and other social scientists have attempted to explain differences in economic success and in democratic performance by invoking trust and the related concept of social capital. This chapter examines how historical experience has shaped patterns of trust in Poland in order to see in what ways these patterns affect the process of post-Communist transformation in Poland today. It argues that it is the pre-Communist, indeed even the pre-industrial, past that influences the present situation in Poland, just as much as does the more recent communist experience. In particular, the chapter highlights the extent to which the change from communism to post-communism differs from other types of modernization processes. It also presents a historical interpretation of specific forms of trust and their dependence on social organization, as well as face-to-face relations and the relations between individuals and large-scale abstract systems, and, more specifically, the state. Finally, the chapter discusses the level of trust among family members, friends, and close acquaintances.

Stripped of illusions? Exploring system justification processes in capitalist and post-Communist societies

“…Feelings of political efficacy are essential for political participation (e.g., González et al, ; Mannarini, Legittimo, & Taló, ; Zimmerman, ). However, many citizens of Central and Eastern Europe continue to feel that it is impossible to change things (Gavreliuc, ; Kochanowicz, ; Mason, ). Presumably, some degree of system justification is required for the individual to believe that the system will be responsive to the needs, interests, and efforts of its citizenry.…”

“…A sense of entitlement to governmental benefits, on the other hand, may be accompanied by the conviction that “others” should take action on one's own behalf (Lewicka, ). Low system justification in post‐Communist societies, then, might be associated with higher expectations of governmental support and, at the same time, decreased political participation (Kochanowicz, ; Lewicka, ). Feelings of entitlement (and tendencies to complain about the system) are associated with political alienation, low self‐esteem and personal dissatisfaction (Żemojtel‐Piotrowska & Piotrowski, ).…”

Discussions on the Eliminating and Controlling of the Public Risks in Cyberspace

“…To some extent it can play a role as orders to avoid risks while sometimes it may also bring convenience to the disorder in cyberspace. It is without doubt that many problems in cyberspace are caused by the development of network technology itself (Kochanowicz, 2005). Secondly, the update circle of the network technology is decreasing and the environment of the cyberspace becomes increasingly complex.…”

Trust in mature and postcommunist democracies

“…Societies remained mostly traditional; most people continued to live in rural areas, on semi-subsistence farms (in agricultural economies). As Kochanowicz (2004) points out, in such traditional agrarian societies, the number of social contacts was limited; trust was limited to the circle of people with whom one was familiar, while foreigners and strangers were distrusted. Moreover, since farmers lived in semi-subsistence economies, trust in market institutions was of limited importance as well.…”

“…Kochanowicz (2004) argues that communist societies retained strong elements of the traditional social organization and cultural legacies of the rural society. Roughly speaking, communist modernization just transferred peasant traditions to the cities.…”