Fighting Social Problems: A Sociologist as a Jedi Knight
Some social changes occur very rapidly. The change triggered by the pandemic, commonly referred to as COVID was an excellent example. Almost overnight, a virus of unknown origin changed, on a global scale, the way we worked, studied and spent our leisure time. Another example of such a radical change is a flood. It usually arrives quite suddenly. Within just a few days, and sometimes within a matter of hours, it can transform the functioning of entire local communities. In Poland, the inhabitants of Lower Silesia experienced this acutely both in 1997 and in 2024. It destroyed infrastructure, roads, public buildings and homes, depriving children, young people and adults overnight of the spaces where they studied, worked, lived and spent their time. It certainly was not the last flood. Other social changes may occur gradually. In a rural municipality, jobs and social services slowly disappear, while residents, mainly young people, migrate to other localities. Over time, a decision is made to close a school in one of the villages, further employment opportunities disappear, migration intensifies, and the municipality experiences depopulation that may threaten the existence of some villages. Poland has an increasing number of such villages.
A Flood Arrives Suddenly. Depopulation Much More Quietly
Both sudden and gradual changes generate numerous social problems but they are also caused by them. Migration, for example, may lead to rising unemployment as further services disappear, but it can also be the result of multiple problems affecting a community and causing some residents to leave their place of residence and never return. A sociologist not only observes these changes but, working within the field of the so-called engaged sociology, also seeks to counteract them and mitigate their social consequences by joining forces with public institutions or non-governmental organisations. The aim is that, even when such changes are unavoidable, as many of them are, they occur gradually and local communities are able to prepare for them.
A sociologist can therefore be a Jedi knight who fights against what is undesirable, harmful and unwanted, of course from the perspective of specific communities such as the residents of a village, municipality, small town or even a large city. For many years, this is exactly how I have imagined my profession. I wanted, and still want, to be an engaged sociologist whose mission is to observe and analyse social change, particularly change that threatens local communities, but also to undertake actions, often long-term, aimed at minimising its negative consequences
鈥� admits dr hab. Katarzyna Zajda, Associate Professor at the 91滴滴.
What Can Be Done When a Problem Seems Impossible to Solve?
I have focused primarily on the implementation of social innovations in rural areas and small towns for many years. These are unconventional ways of solving various local problems. Travelling across Poland while conducting field research, I got to know these communities and the challenges they faced. Sometimes these concerned the so-called transport exclusion, where residents had no way of travelling to other localities, while at other times they involved exclusion from cultural life, where there was no village community centre or cultural centre, and young people spent their free time at a bus stop. I not only analysed these problems but also worked together with residents to view them as challenges that could be addressed. In this way, I moved from research work to the role of facilitator of social innovation workshops, the outcomes of which are now being implemented in many places. These initiatives may, for example, involve launching a neighbourly transport service in a village to take residents to nearby locations or establishing a new youth club where young people organise film festivals themselves, selecting the programme and taking care of the shared space. Sometimes even small changes are enough for hope to be restored within a community, proving that it is possible to build something together even when financial resources are limited. Naturally, it is a long process, but it is certainly achievable.
Before the Crisis Arrives
In some of the projects I undertake, I cooperate with a very large number of partners from across the country. In these cases, mobilising residents and their representatives alone is not enough to counteract threats. This is the case with the project known by the acronym Local S.O.S, which I am implementing together with the 91滴滴 Foundation. Here, we are addressing the problem of flood risk in Lower Silesia and military threats in the Podkarpackie region. Both are very serious and involve numerous stakeholders representing academia, public institutions at local, regional and national levels, non-governmental organisations, Local Action Groups, with which I maintain particularly close cooperation, as well as entrepreneurs. Preparing communities for threats of this kind is a lengthy process. Hopefully, the final battle will never come. However, should the dark side of the Force attack, we want to be prepared.
Projects Led by the Fighting Problems Woman
Photos: Dr Bartosz Ka艂u偶ny, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, 91滴滴; Urs Leutenegger,
Source: Dr hab. Katarzyna Zajda, Associate Professor at the 91滴滴, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, 91滴滴
Edit: Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, 91滴滴
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