Editor’s note

In September 1997 the 10th Nationwide Congress of the Polish Sociological Association, under the caption “Silesia - Poland - Europe. Society in Transition in Local and Global Perspective” was held in Katowice. This volume contains texts of the papers delivered within the framework of one of the symposia of which the congress consisted, and which was devoted to the social aspects of the reconstruction of old industrial areas in Europe. Inclusion of this topic to the programme of the Congress appears fully justified if we bear in mind its location. The Province (Voivodship) of Katowice, or to be more precise: the Upper-Silesian Industrial Region (GOP) is a typical example of an old industrial region, whose future looks bleak indeed. The demands of the global market will, sooner or later, enforce substantial structural changes in the region. The course of those changes will largely depend upon the way in which their social costs will be distributed, but also upon whether and in what range public and private sectors will be urged to cooperate in the search for common solutions. That is the general conclusion that can be drawn from the discussions held during the two days of debates in Katowice. Specialists representing both parts of Europe undergoing unification, invited to take part in the symposium, had the chance to share the results of their studies concerning the old industrial regions; in case of representatives of Eastern Europe the presentations were, more often than not, preceded with some general reflections about the system transformations going on in their respective countries. [fragm.