SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS IN POLAND

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is one of the most important factors of economic success in the terms of the market economy. The paper attempts to explore social and cultural context of entrepreneurship development in polish rural areas. System of values, morality, attitudes and social influence can stimulate or limit rural entrepreneurship.
To examine this issue the author concentrates on the communist system, which destroyed the ethos of work, independence and activity of Polish farmers. Looking at the transformation process after 1989 in Poland in rural areas, the author explores that resignation and passivity predominated among rural people. Current sociological research presents that a small percentage of rural residents is trying to actively influence their fate and economic position. They select life strategies of “waiting out” or “belt-tightening” much more frequently. Rural entrepreneurship in Poland is strongly supported by family and neighbourhood relationships and the peasant tradition of “working in private farm” learned from many years of ownership and farm management. The analysis concerns the peculiarity of rural entrepreneurship having not only economic, but also the social dimension. The paper is based on the relevant academic literature, statistics, public opinion research and empirical studies of rural communities in Poland.