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East Central Europe and the former Soviet Union are experiencing large-scale social and economic transformations. This study by the University of Birmingham, looks at the changes in economic institutions and how those changes impact communities. 

It focuses particularly on the case of Nowa Huta, and finds that whilst social networks have been eroded by the decline of work institutions, they have not entirely disappeared. It suggests that future policy should concentrate on building upon the existing structures and institutions which help to reproduce communities. 

Key findings

Labour institutions play an active role in shaping economies and communities.

• Under socialism, trade unions and work places were responsible for many aspects of workers lives, including social, recreational and domestic provision. A tight relationship existed between workplace and community.
• Labour organisations have a continued presence today, but extra-workplace activity is orientated less towards the reproduction of the union and more toward the reproduction of the community.  

The decline of work has had negative impacts on community and citizenship.

• Under socialism, welfare, recreation and consumer services were all the responsibility of the state. Citizens' rights and values were founded almost entirely on their relationship to production. 
• Where work was once seen to provide stability and benefits it is now seen to dominate resident's lives in a negative way. Even those out of work see their unemployment and search for work as dominating their lives. 
• Communities built on a socialist labour structure face a double decline: the end of their work activity also curtails their community activity. As state industry has declined, so have the communities that it supported.
• The strong community ties which came from individuals sharing common experiences are no longer apparent. Whilst the routines and institutions built around the work place promoted shared life-experiences, job loss and insecurity are less likely to be experienced collectively. 
• The lack of collective experience allows contemporary capitalism to go relatively unchallenged. Community building resources of an earlier era are ignored or destroyed through a lack of collective citizenship.   

Social Mobility has reduced in Nowa Huta

• In the socialist context Nowa Huta was seen as a place of opportunity and stability. Migrants came together to build a tightly knit community. Since 1989, Nowa Huta is increasingly seen as a place of insecurity and declining mobility.
• Currently residents want to access entertainment, education and employment in Kraków, but this does not reduce people’s tie to Nowa Huta. Low levels of housing mobility mean that friendship and acquaintance networks are strong and long standing. 
• The social support networks and feelings of attachment individuals have to Nowa Huta should be built upon to counter the negative effects of political, economic and social transformation. Locals should use these aspects of community to protect themselves from social erosion.   

Contemporary Nowa Huta has conflicting images of itself

• Because of Nowa Huta's history as both a 'socialist city' at one point and a 'bastion of Solidarity' at another it has become a site of 'communist heritage tourism'. 
• To attract tourists, Nowa Huta must draw attention to its socialist urban planning and Stalinist architecture - the very characteristics it is derided for in other circumstances. 
• 'Local patriotism' is threatened as a resource to develop stronger communities.  

'Work' and 'class' have new meanings, but they are still central to the structuring of communities.

• Industrial work has been impacted by the economic transformations to the extent that while it once suggested social inclusion, it now implies social exclusion. Similarly, working class histories which were once a source of pride are now likely to either attract derision or be exaggerated for economic gain through tourism. 
• Capitalism is developing unevenly, preventing individuals from having collective experiences. This has a negative effect on social networks and undermines the possibility of collective action. 
• A culture of individualism is taking place which in turn brings about new patterns of inequality, including those based on gender and ethnicity. 
• This research proposes that lessons should be learnt from the erosion of community in the West. It suggests that if Western patterns of inequality are not to appear in the post-socialist context, policies must seek to build upon existing structures to reproduce and develop communities.   

About the Study

The study was conducted by Dr Alison Stenning, now based at the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle. Research included a ten month visit to Kraków and Nowa Huta 2000-2001 where 29 interviews with key informants were conducted. Dr Stenning also conducted 32 in-depth interviews with a broad range of Nowa Huta residents.

Key words

Nowa Huta, Soviet Union, Europe, economic, community, soical mobility

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