Grzegorz Węcławowicz

Abstract This article offers a review of the state and practice of Polish research in the field of urban social geography, which is still under formation. From the outset, this domain has shown marked diversification as regards both subject matter and methodology. Like most “reviews”, this one has its strong subjective elements. The first part presents the historical context, i.e. the political, organisational and social circumstances in which research has been conducted. The roots of research in social geography in Poland trace back to the inter-War period (1918-1939), while post-War evolution of geography (like everything else in the country) reflected the imposed impact of communist-era doctrine. Specifically though, it was the formation of the Institute of Geography as a part of newly-established Polish Academy of Sciences (in 1953) as combined with the methodological conference convened in Osieczna in 1955 that shape geographical research in Poland for several post-War decades. The second part of this paper documents the gradual emergence of urban social geography (under a relatively relaxed political impact where social research was concerned). The implementation of social ecology is stressed, as well as the concept of factorial ecology as a leading toils and initial concepts. Also presented are the processes which have shaped the current state of urban social geography; sources of inspiration from geography, sociology and especially social ecology; and the quantitative turn taken by the social sciences. The third part turns its attention to the diversity of concepts and subject matter present in research on social problems, as well as such phenomena as: socio-spatial differentiation and disparity, poverty, housing issues and cultural dimensions. General mention is also made of the new concepts and research topics which emerged with Poland’s post-1989 transformation, like electoral studies, gentrification, spatial inequality, spatial conflict, the appropriation of public space, regeneration, perception studies and cultural studies. Particular attention has been paid to theoretical concepts relating to cities (as a product of ideology). So theories regarding “the socialist city” (i.e. the communist-era city) and its transformation into the city of the post-communist era were developed, with the current evolution being regarded as dominated by the neo-liberal doctrine. It is concluded that urban social geography in Poland is still under formation, even if it already occupies a relatively good position as applied research, while also returning (culturally) to its more humanistic and socially sensitive roots.

Keywords: ekologia społeczna, elita społeczna, miasta socjalistyczne, miasta postsocjalistyczne, ubóstwo, zróżnicowanie społeczno-przestrzenne, zwrot kulturalny, geografia człowieka

Grzegorz Węcławowicz [g.wecla@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Węcławowicz, G. (2017). Geografia społeczna miast w Polsce. Przegląd Geograficzny, 89(4), 535-563. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.4.2
MLA: Węcławowicz, Grzegorz. "Geografia społeczna miast w Polsce". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 89, no. 4, 2017, pp. 535-563. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.4.2
Chicago: Węcławowicz, Grzegorz. "Geografia społeczna miast w Polsce". Przegląd Geograficzny 89, no. 4 (2017): 535-563. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.4.2
Harvard: Węcławowicz, G. 2017. "Geografia społeczna miast w Polsce". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 89, no. 4, pp. 535-563. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.4.2