Cittaslow Network - a Strategy for the Development of Small Towns in Poland?

The main subject of the article is Cittaslow network bringing together small and medium-sized cities (up to 50 000 inhabitants). Cittaslow is an international organization that has chosen the goal of improving the quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors from small towns. The towns focus on economic development while respecting the environment, promotion of regional products and a return to traditional craft. Activating social participation of citizens is also a crucial aspect, because Slow Cities are meant to be the strong local communities. The paper shows the main objectives of this international network, and based on research conducted from 2009 on Polish towns presents how the movement has been implemented in Poland. At the end, I try to answer whether, and if so, under what conditions it is an attractive alternative to the development of small towns in Poland