Supporting or Afforesting? Dilemmas in the Development of Rural Problem Areas in Poland

Abstract

Approximately one third of rural areas in Poland have been described as problem areas by planners. They represent mostly peripheral or marginalised areas, characterised by several deficits (of physical, human, social, and cultural capital), that cannot develop without external help. Moreover, formulating the aims of development is even more problematic. Challenges raised by the new paradigm of sustainable rural development which refers to numerous elements of the sociological idea of neo-endogenous development are especially important. The present analysis of deficits of the problem areas underscores the significance of human, social, and cultural deficits. Such is the context of external support for these areas and the limits of social rationality thereof. The idea of negative spiral of development and the matching paradigm – a new development paradigm for some of the discussed areas – both proposed by Gerlind Weber – are of use in explaining the described phenomena.