Civil Society and Social Anomy in Poland

Abstract

The transition to market economy and democracy requires a change in the entire social order This raises the questions Will a civil society. once repressed and restricted. fully develop in the process of self-organization, and will it avail itself of the new opportunmes provided by market and democracy?' Available data give a negative answer to these questions, point ing to mcreasmg apathy and social passivity The reasons are numerous, i.e. the change in the world of meaning,, and in the definition of past. present and future, declassation of certain social groups: factors linked to the specific character of Polish transformation and socio-psychological consequences of the process of change These and other factors cause social anomy, a side- effect of transition and its social changes.