Time for a new stage of Polish democracy: civil society and social capital of Polish women and men
dr hab., prof. WUEB Bartłomiej Nowotarski
expert of the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business
The 2023 elections have rediscovered – quite unexpectedly, after all – the potential of civil society in Poland: 74% voter turnout, at a similar level the participation of men and women and young people. And this is after many years of stagnation. As if, after 1989, we pressed the gas pedal again. In the past, however, the trend of the time failed to turn into sustainable social capital for Polish women and men. Thus, we have another unique opportunity to ensure that social issues are not just the subject of ad hoc spurts.
Social capital is the established reciprocal relationships of citizens resulting in cooperation on social or economic issues, not limited to family, neighbors or colleagues. Societies without civil society organizations (hereafter CSOs) and social capital are in danger of stagnation or even regression. Unfortunately, the first Solidarity did not perpetuate in us those particular patterns of public activity that it itself embodied. Throughout the years of the Third Republic, civil society has not become a partner in decision-making for politicians, beyond providing services, although Poles have taken a significant step in their development to build individual capitals, mainly educational, and at levels comparable to the top of OECD countries.
However, something else important goes into building social capital: cooperating and organizing citizens have the potential to create demand, that is, social pressure on the political world. There is, however, one condition: they must be able not only to help, but above all to represent the problems of the communities for which they work, and politicians formally guarantee them such expression of problems and interaction. This is pure support for the political sphere of the state, which no longer needs to diagnose these problems itself. It is to the CSOs that the issue of reducing polarization and reconciliation of Polish women and men, for example, will be submitted.
Civil society can become a kind of fourth power in Poland, but only if we consistently fulfill the following directional conditions:
- Democratic politicians must become extremely empathetic to all citizens, otherwise no logical arguments will help when they feel lectured and treated without sympathy. Such is our nature (according to evolutionist psychologists) that we are always guided by emotions before reason.
- The state must finally become professional and impartial in its treatment of citizens. And it is not about political institutions, but those applying the law like: courts, prosecutors, public administration. Citizens’ own confidence in themselves also depends on 60 to 70 percent trust in them.
- CSOs need to learn to assertively (hence my name for them: ANGOs) represent the concerns of the communities they work with, not just serve them.
- The interaction of CSOs and the political world must be organized formally for the entire spectrum of CSOs (government committees, parliamentary committees), not selectively and ad hoc.
- A new institution of Law and Civil Dialogue should be established by law, with the task of organizing the so-called “Civil Dialogue“. deliberative panels solving, by the Poles themselves, their social problems.
- Thus, the main law “On Partnership and Code of Good Practice between the State and Civil Society” will also be indispensable.
Time for a New Era of Polish Democracy: Civil Society and Social Capital of Poles
Bartłomiej Nowotarski, PhD, Professor of the UEW
The 2023 elections have unexpectedly rediscovered the potential of civil society in Poland, with a voter turnout of 74% and similar participation levels of women, men, and young people. This comes after many years of stagnation. It’s as if, after 1989, we’ve pressed the gas pedal again. However, in the past, we failed to transform that trend into a sustainable social capital for Polish women and men. We now have another unique opportunity to ensure that social issues are not just the subject of occasional efforts.
Social capital refers to the entrenched mutual relationships of citizens that result in collaboration on social and economic matters, extending beyond family, neighbors, or acquaintances. Societies lacking a well-organized civil society and social capital are at risk of stagnation or even regression. Unfortunately, the first “Solidarity” Trade Union movement failed to solidify these unique patterns of public activity that it embodied. In the Polish state, following the fundamental political transformations that have occurred since 1989, civil society did not become a partner for politicians in decision-making beyond providing services. However, Poles have taken a significant step in their development toward building individual capital, primarily in education, and at a level comparable to leading OECD countries.
Building social capital, however, involves something essential: cooperating and organized citizens have the potential to generate social demand pressure in the political arena. There’s one condition, though: they must not only provide assistance but, above all, represent the problems of the communities they serve, and politicians should formally guarantee such problem expression and interaction. This directly supports the political sphere, which no longer needs to diagnose these issues independently. CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) will be able to address issues like reducing polarization and reconciliation between Polish women and men. Thus, civil society can become a kind of “fourth power” in Poland, but only if we consistently fulfill the following directional conditions:
- Democratic politicians must be exceptionally empathetic to all citizens, as logical arguments won’t help if people feel lectured and unsympathetically treated. Evolutionary psychologists say we are naturally inclined to follow emotions rather than reason.
- The state must finally become professional and impartial in its treatment of citizens, particularly in applying the law, such as courts, prosecution, and public administration. The trust in these institutions directly affects citizens’ confidence in themselves, ranging from 60% to 70%.
- CSOs must learn to assertively (hence my term for them: ANGOs) represent the problems of the communities they collaborate with, not just serve them.
- The interaction between CSOs and the political arena must be organized formally for the entire CSOs (government committees, parliamentary committees) rather than selectively and ad hoc.
- Legislation should establish a new institution for “Civic Rights and Dialogue,“ tasked with organizing deliberative panels to address social issues by the Polish people themselves.
- A main act/law ‘On Partnership and a Code of Good Practices Between the State and Civil Society,’ will also be essential.”
