Development of Social Capital in the Situation of Migration Intensification

Abstract

In Poland migration is intensifying, which is a challenge for the society. Such a situation creates various problems, among which the most important one is the state of social capital and social trust. The society is looking for ways to overcome economic, political and psychological barriers to the development of social capital in a situation where immigrants are an important element. That search for a solution enhances the national identity and the basis 105 Development of Social Capital in the Situation of Migration Intensifi cation for creation or revival of the sense of ‘we-community’. The development of inter-cultural communication, communication between representatives of different cultures, holders of diverse national identities, objectively is of complex character. Therefore, it is necessary to pass from the mode of analysing problems at the level of everyday practice to the level of humanistic values; and it is necessary to become aware that the values are common and – consequently – on that basis to start everyday practice organised according to the rule of partnership. Describing the statistical picture of the Ukrainians in Poland we present also the features of that process, which are not reflected in the statistical data commonly available. The analysis covers the process of the development of the practice that regulates the migration both top-down and at the grass roots (bottom-up). The article also depicts social initiatives and citizens’ activities to optimise the functioning of the cultural diversity inside the society, to organise a system of cooperation of ‘new’ and ‘old’ members to finally create a community with social capital at the level of the country, the region and each organisation. ROZWÓJ KAPITAŁU SPOŁECZNEGO W SYTUACJI INTENSYFIKACJI MIGRACJI