Social Activity of New Settlers in Polish Rural Areas

Abstract

This article constitutes a continuation of the author’s earlier paper titled Peasant systems of values as an inspiration for Polish alternative communities, which was published in the quarterly Wieś i Rolnictwo (No. 3) in 2006. The article describes social activity of the rural areas’ new settlers. The starting point for a reflection on the character of activities pursued by associations formed by persons who have recently settled in rural areas and the ability of such associations to formulate proposals suiting the needs of local communities is the description of cultural preferences of the inhabitants of villages and small towns who are the addressees of social ventures undertaken by new settlers. Initiatives launched by new settlers form only a part of the social-educational activity that is being developed in rural areas. However, these initiatives have become an object of interest of researchers investigating the phenomenon of migration from urban areas to rural areas. This phenomenon is being examined from various angles, also in the context of development of a new class of rural intelligentsia. The author of the article tries to establish whether the arrival of new well educated settlers will actually help shape a different image of rural areas.