A C T A U N I V E R S I T A T I S L O D Z I E N S I S F O L I A S O C I O L O G I C A 14, 1987_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M i e c z y s ł a w K o w a l s k i THE P E A S A N T V I L L A G E IN P O L A N O - SOME R E M A R K S O N B A C K W A R D N E S S AND O B S T A C L E S OF D E V E L O P M E N T
The i s s u e s c o n c e r n i n g the v i l l a g e and a g r i c u l t u r e h a v e for the c o n s e c u t i v e t i m e e m e r g e d as one of the f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s of ou r c o u n t r y , n o w so s h a r p l y b r o u g h t to the a t t e n t i o n of the a u t h o r i t i e s a nd the s o c i e t y by the p r e s e n t c r i s i s . The fa ct that the i m m e d i a t e a n t e c e d e n t of the e v e n t s and a d i r e c t c a u s e of the work er s' i n t e r v e n t i o n w a s the s i t u a t i o n on the f oo d m a r k e t , n e x t to the d i s t o r t i o n s in the e x e r c i s e of p o w e r , is i n d e e d d e e -p l y s i g n i f i c a n t . It b r o u g h t b i t t e r s a t i s f a c t i o n t.o the P o l i s h f a r m e r s , e s p e c i a l l y the p e a s a n t s w h o ha d lo ng b e e n a w a r e of the f a u l t y a g r i c u l t u r e p o l i c y , of the d i s a s t r o u s c o n s e q u e n c e s of a r e t a r d a t i o n in the d e v e l o p m e n t of the v i l l a g e and a g r i c u l t u r e . In our c o n d i t i o n s the r e t a r d a t i o n is of a t w o f o l d c h a r a c t e r .
F i r s t l y - as in p r o b a b l y all the c o u n t r i e s of the w o r l d - we, too, h a v e to c o p e w i t h a h i s t o r i c b a c k w a r d n e s s of the v i l l a g e arid a g r i c u l t u r e as c o m p a r e d to the ci t y and i n d u s t r y . The a s s o c i a t ed w i t h c a p i t a l i s m p r o g r e s s o f t e n at the e x p e n s e of a g r i c u l t ur e for m a n y d e c a d e s e n c o m p a s s e d a l m o s t s o l e ly , and later m a i n -ly the i n d u s t r y and n o n - a g r i c u l t u r a l a r e a s of the e c o n o m y as well as the u r b a n e n v i r o n m e n t . This b e c o m e s o b v i o u s i n d e p e n d e n t of h o w one d e f i n e s the n o t i o n d e v e l o p m e n t or p r o g r e s s and wh a t s p h e r e s of h u m a n a c t i v i t i e s one t a k e s in t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n : t e c h -n o l o g y , m a -n a g e m e -n t of l a b o u r a-nd e c o -n o m y , the s o c i a l s ph er e, e d u c a t i o n , and cu l t u r e .
The d e p t h of the p h e n o m e n a of v i l l a g e r e t a r d a t i o n and its h i s t o r i c d u r a t i o n the g e n e r a t i o n of m a n y fa l s e m y t h s and h a r m f u l s t e r e o t y p e s - not o nl y in the c o m m o n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , but a l s o in
v a r i o u s i d e o l o g i c a l an d p o l i t i c a l d o c t r i n e s , an d e v e n in th e d o -m a i n of s c i e n c e . S o m e of t h e o l d e r o n e s i d e a l i z e d th e t r a d i t i o -na l v i l l a g e " p e a c e f u l a n d h a p p y " , as if f r e e f r o m all s o c i a l e v i l an d a b n o r m a l i t y , w h i c h d i d e x i s t in the c i t i e s of p r i m a r y i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n . A c c o r d i n g to o t h e r m y t h s , t h o s e th a t a p p e a r e d l a t e r a n d w h i c h s t i l l f u n c t i o n t o d a y th e o p p o s i t e is t r u e a g r i -c u l t u r e an d the v i l l a g e as o u t of t h e i r o w n n a t u r e are d o o m e d to a f a t e of c o n s t a n t b a c k w a r d n e s s , a n d th e p e a s a n t e c o n o m y m a y at t h e u t m o s t v e g e t a t e on th e o u t s k i r t s of m o d e r n s o c i e t y . T his la s t s t e r e o t y p e is as if s u b s t a n t i a t e d by s o m e n a t u r a l a n d t e c h -n i c a l f e a t u r e s of the v i l l a g e m i l i e u . ' Th e m o d e r -n i t y , i n i t i a t i v e and r a t i o n a l i s m of th e city, e n t e r p r e n e u r , a n d w o r k e r w e r e c o n -t r a s -t e d w i -t h -t h e s u p p o s e d l y i n n a -t e -t r a d i -t i o n a l i s m , c o n s e r v a t i s m , a n d b a c k w a r d n e s s of th e v i l l a g e , th e l a n d - o w n e r , th e p e a s a n t . In o p p o s i t i o n to the p r o c e s s of m e c h a n i z a t i o n , a u t o m a t i z a t i o n , and r o b o t i z a t i o n in i n d u s t r y , th e c r e a t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n of th e e n g i -n e e r a-n d s c i e -n t i s t s t a -n d s th e s u p p o s e d c o -n s t a -n t p r i m i t i v i s m , and l o w p r o d u c t i v i t y of all a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r t r e a t e d o n l y as m e r e r e a p i n g of c r o p s . Th e s h i m m e r of u r b a n c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e is so g r e a t th a t its s u p e r i o r i t y to the b o r e d o m , g r e y n e s s , c r u -d e n e s s , a n -d a l m o s t i -d i o t i s m of a v i l l a g e e x i s t e n c e is b e y o n -d any d i s c u s s i o n . T h e s e s t a t e m e n t s are, of c o u r s e , e x a g g e r a t e d on p u r p o s e , a l t h o u g h s u c h an i d e o l o g y of i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n an d u r b a n i z a t i o n b e -c a m e p o p u l a r in o u r ow n -c o u n t r y as we l l , and n o t o n l y in the s p h e r e of m a n a g e m e n t . It g a i n e d s u p p o r t f r o m the a b i d i n g m o d e l of s o c i a l i s m in w h i c h in p e r s p e c t i v e t h e r e w a s no r o o m f o r the p e a s a n t a n d p e a s a n t f a m i l y f a r m i n g , an d for th e s p e c i f i c i t y of the v i l l a g e m i l i e u . One d o e s no t n e e d to s t r e s s th a t th e s t e r e o t y p e s are n o t o nl y f a lse, b u t a l s o h a r m f u l . Th e e f f e c t i v e h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t a l r e t a r d a t i o n of a g r i c u l t u r e an d v i l l a g e p o s s e s s e s it s o w n rational c a u s e s , an d it s c o m p r e h e n s i o n a l l o w s on e to t r e a t t h e m as h i s t o -r i c a l l y t -r a n s i t i o n a l . T h e y a-r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h s u c h n a t u -r a l an d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l d e m a n d s of th e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n w h i c h in the e a r l i e r p e r i o d of i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t w e r e in t e c h n i c a l and e c o n o m i c a l t e r m s i m p o s s i b l e to r e a l i z e . T h e y a l s o d e a l w i t h the c o m p l e x i t y an d t a r d i n e s s of a b i o l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s w h i c h is, a f -te r all t h e b a s i s of a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t . F i n a l l y , th e y
lie in th e s p h e r e of n o t th e i n f e r i o r i t y bu t d i s t i n c t n e s s of the ru r a l s o c i a l w o rld. In o r d e r to c r e a t e a c h a n c e of d e v e l o p m e n t for the v i l l a g e an d a g r i c u l t u r e , it is of e s s e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e for the a u t h o r i -t i e s a n d -the w h o l e s o c i e -t y -to r e j e c -t s -t e r e o -t y p e s of a c h r o n i c r e t a r d a t i o n of the v i l l a g e - s t e r e o t y p e s w h i c h as a c o n s e q u e n c e l e a d to th e c o n s i g n m e n t of th e v i l l a g e to the m a r g i n s of the i n -d u s t r i a l i z e -d , u r b a n i z e -d s o c i e t y , to its own d o o m e d fate. It is e s -s e n t i a l an d n o w f e a -s i b l e l i k e in m a n y o t h e r c o u n t r i e -s to -s t a r t a n e w s t a g e in w h i c h the d e v e l o p e d i n d u s t r y an d c i t y s e r v e a c t i -v e l y the d e -v e l o p m e n t of a g r i c u l t u r e an d -v i l l a g e , a f t e r all, in a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e i r o w n i n t e r e s t s . A n d h e r e we r e a c h the s e c o n d le v e l or d i m e n s i o n of b a c k w a r d -n e s s of o u r v i l l a g e a -n d a g r i c u l t u r e . Fo r s t i l l - r e g a r d l e s s of th e m a n y i m p o r t a n t a c h i e v e m e n t s we d i d no t d e c i d e d l y a s s u m e t h a t i n d i s p e n s a b l e t u r n to the p r o c e s s of v i l l a g e m o d e r n i z a t i o n , a c -c e l e r a t i o n , q u a l i t a t i v e -c h a n g e s . It s e e m s t h a t its d e v e l o p m e n t a l r e t a r d a t i o n s e e m s to be r e l a t i v e l y g r e a t e r in o u r c o u n t r y than it c o u l d an d s h o u l d f o l l o w f r o m the l e v e l a c h i e v e d by i n d u s t r y a n d c i t i e s , by the e n t i r e e c o n o m y , c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e . A ll t h i s c a m e a b o u t as a r e s u l t of m a n y c a u s e s a m o n g w h i c h the s t e r e o t y p e d i s c u s s e d a b o v e p l a y e d an e s s e n t i a l role. It f u n c t i o n e d as a c o n c e p t of d i m i n i s h i n g th e r o l e of a g r i c u l t u r e an d v i l l a g e in th e e c o n o m y an d s o c i e t y , a c o n c e p t of a o n e - w a y a s s i m i l a t i o n as a w a y of e x t i n g u i s h i n g th e d i f f e r e n c e s . T h e j u x t a p o s i t i o n of the m o d e r n s t e e l p l a n t or c a r f a c t o r y with a p e a s -ant f a r m of s e v e r a l h e c t a r e s p a r a l i z e d the r a t i o n a l t h i n k i n g of t h o s e w h o w e r e to d e c i d e , and d e s t r u c t e d the a s p i r a t i o n s of y o u n g p e o p l e . An d ye t t h a t s u p p o s e d l y p r i m i t i v e p e a s a n t w a s h a r d l y t o l e -r a t e d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , an d he w e l l k n e w t h a t n o b o d y c o u l d c r e d i -b l y g u a r a n t e e h i m th e r i g h t to r e m a i n a p e a s a n t , to be a b l e to m a k e hi s ow n c h o i c e w i t h i n th e s o c i a l i s t p e r s p e c t i v e of the s o -cie t y . D us t to th e c o n t r a r y a c o n s t a n t l y c h a n g i n g a g r i c u l t u -ral p o l i c y , th e d a i l y h a r r a s s m e n t of t h e b e a u r o c r a c y , a m u l t i -tu d e of d i s p a r i t i e s , a n d an a g g r e v a t i n g p r o p a g a n d a added s t r e n g t h to hi s g r o w i n g c o n v i c t i o n of an i n s e c u r i t y an d helple ssnes s. In s p i t e of a r a d i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t of th e p e a s a n t ' s o b j e c t i v e c o n -d i t i o n s of l i v i n g w h e n c o m p a r e -d w i t h th e past, p a r a d o x i c a l l y ,
th e p e a s a n t d e v e l o p e d a c o n v i c t i o n of t h e i n f e r i o r i t y of h i s ow n l i f e in c o m p a r i s o n to t h a t of th e i n t e l l e c t u a l , the w h i t e - c o l l a r w o r k e r , th e f a c t o r y w o r k e r . Th e d i s c u s s e d a b o v e t w o f o l d r e t a r d a t i o n of o u r e n t i r e a g r i -c u l t u r e -c o n -c e r n s e s p e -c i a l l y f a m i l y e -c o n o m y a n d p e a s a n t s . S i n c e the r e t a r d a t i o n is c o n d i t i o n e d by the c o n s c i o u s n e s s - e s p e c i a l l y in it s s e c o n d d i m e n s i o n - t h e n a c h a n g e of r e a l i t y r e q u i r e s an e a r l i e r c h a n g e in th e w a y of t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h i s r e a l i t y - in the c i t y an d in th e v i l l a g e , in th e i n d u s t r y a n d in a g r i c u l t u r e . A t i m e of c r i s i s f a v o u r s a s h a r p e r p e r c e p t i o n of p r o b l e m s , it f a v o u r s t h r o u g h d i s c u s s i o n a n d p o l e m i c s a r e o r i e n t a t i o n of the p u b l i c o p i n i o n an d v e r i f i c a t i o n of i d e o l o g i c a l and p o l i t i c a l d o c -t r i n e s , a n d -t h u s c h a n g e s in -t h e s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c a l p r a c -t i c e . L e t us t u r n o u r a t t e n t i o n to c h o s e n i s s u e s r e l e v a n t in t e r m s of the v i l l a g e a n d a g r i c u l t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y p e a s a n t f a r m i n g . 1. Th e s t e r e o t y p e of the s e c o n d - r a t e of p e r i p h e r a l jJo sH io n ^ jm d ^ ^ ro l^ o f^ ^ ^ in the e c o n o m y , p o l i c y , n a t i o n a l c u l t u r e , etc. F i r s t on e n e e d s to r e p e a t t h a t th e f a c t u a l m u l t i f o l d r e t a r d a -t i o n of -t h e v i l l a g e a n d a g r i c u l -t u r e d o e s n o -t d i m i n i s h , bu t to the c o n t r a r y it c l e a r l y v i s u a l i z e s t h e i r f u n d a m e n t a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , its n e c e s s i t y in c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y . Th e a b i l i t y of s u r -m o u n t i n g th e r e t a r d a t i o n t h e c r u c i a l p r o g r e s s in f o o d p r o d u c -t ion, an d as a r e s u l -t a l s o -the s o c i a l an d c u l -t u r a l p r o g r e s s of the v i l l a g e - all t h e s e ar e an o b v i o u s n e c e s s i t y in the o v e r a l l d e v e l o p m e n t of th e s o c i e t y . T h i s r e q u i r e s th e a p p l i c a t i o n of all of the a c h i e v e m e n t s of c i v i l i z a t i o n , th e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of all the o t h e r n o n a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t i o n s of e c o n o m y c o n n e c t e d w i t h m e c h a -n i z a t i o -n , c h e m i c a l a-n d b i o l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s , a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o f e s -s i o n a l i -s m . It a l s o r e q u i r e s a c o n s t a n t s o c i a l an d e c o n o m i c a l r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n and m o d e r n i z a t i o n of the r u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t .
2. The s t e r e o t y p e of a b s o l u t e s u p e r i o r i t y - e c o n o m i c a l or i d e o l o g i c a l - of t h e s e or o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n a l fo r m s in a g r i c u l t u r e It is e x t r e m e l y a d v a n t a g e o u s th at t h e r e e x i s t s a c o n v i c t i o n a b o u t th e u n i t y of o u r a g r i c u l t u r e , the e q u a l i t y of r i g h t s of all s e c t o r s , the r i g h t f u l n e s s of a d i v i s i o n int o e c o n o m i c a l l y b e t -t e r - o f f and w o r s e - o f f farms , an d no t in t o p e a s a n t , c o o p e r a t i v e , an d s t a t e - o w n e d far m s. A n d s p e c i f i c a l l y p r a c t i c e has s h o w n that, c o n t r a r y to e x p e c t a t i o n s , p e a s a n t f a r m s in s p i t e of d i f f i c u l t c o n d i t i o n s , d i d n o t s u c c u m b to l i q u i d a t i o n , bu t r e l a t i v e l y s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e i r p o s i t i o n not o n l y in P o l a n d . Th e y d i s p l a y a c a p a b i l i t y of f u r t h e r t e c h n i c a l an d e c o n o m i c a l p r o g r e s s , an d a p o s s i b i l i t y of a d a p t i n g a l s o in the s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m (a b l o c k a d e of t e n d e n c i e s of c a p i t a l i z a t i o n , a r e c e p t i v i t y to p l a n n e d e c o n o -m i c s t e e r i n g , c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n s e c t o r s ) . The f a m i l y f a r m as a f o r m of p r o p e r t y and o r g a n i z i n g p r o d u c -ti o n e x c l u d i n g in ou r c o n d i t i o n s e x p l o i t a t i o n an d r e a l i z i n g the p r i n c i p l e of a d i s t r i b u t i o n a c c o r d i n g to w o r k - w h a t w a s n o t e d by M a r k s a b o u t so c a l l e d p a r c e l p e a s a n t - h a s th e r i g h t to be c o n s i d e r e d a p e r m a m e n t e l e m e n t of th e s o c i a l i s t e c o n o m y . P e r m a - m e n t m e a n s p o s s e s i n g n o t as m u c h c o n d i t i o n s fo r e x i s t e n c e , but r a t h e r c h a n c e s of d e v e l o p m e n t in the e c o n o m i c c o m p e t i t i o n . T hi s c o n v i c t i o n w a s e x p r e s s e d by the s o - c a l l e d p e a s a n t r e c o r d in the C o n s t i t u t i o n an d to a g r e a t e x t e n t the p r e s e n t a g r i c u l t u r a l p o -licy.
The p o i n t is, t h o u g h , t h a t the a u t h o r i t i e s s h o u l d n o t tr e a t t h i s c i r c u m s t a n t i a l l y as an e x t o r t e d an d t e m p o r a r y c o m p r o m i s e but as a t r u l y o f f e n s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t a l s t r a t e g y . It is a l s o e q u a l l y e s s e n t i a l t hat the p e a s a n t s do n o t se e it as a f r e e z e of the e x i s t i n g s t a t e of a f f a i r s , as a n o n - c o n d i t i o n a l g u a r a n t e e for e a c h i n d i v i d u a l farm . It w o u l d , fo r e x a m p l e , h a v e b e e n d i s a s t r o u s or e v e n i m p o s s i b l e to m a i n t a i n p r i c e s w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n p r o -f i t a b l e -for the w o r s t -f a r m e r . It d e a l s t h e n w i t h la c k of d i s -c r i m i n a t i o n , an e q u a l i t y of -c h a n g e s , w h i c h d o e s no t e x c l u d e but r a t h e r a s s u m e s th e e x i s t e n c e of c o m p e t i t i o n c h a n g e s of th e a g r a -r i a n s t -r u c t u -r e , etc, a l s o in the s p h e r e of the p e a s a n t e c o n o m y i t s e l f .
The n e c e s s i t y of t h e p r o g r e s s i o n of a b r o a d l y u n d e r s t o o d p r o c e s s of s o c i a l i z a t i o n in a g r i c u l t u r e a n d in the l i f e of the v i l l a g e is o b v i o u s . S o c i a l i z a t i o n d o e s n o t s i g n i f y c o l l e c t i v i -z a t i o n or n a t i o n a l i -z a t i o n , b u t an i n c r e a s e of s o c i a l w o r k d i s -t r i b u -t i o n a n d c o o p e r a -t i o n b e -t w e e n a g r i c u l -t u r e a n d b o -t h i n d u s -t r y a n d s e r v i c e trad e , c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n s e c t o r s , d e v e l o p m e n t of the s o c i a l - c u l t u r a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e of the v i l l a g e , d e v e l o p m e n t of the s e l f - g o v e r n i n g b o d y , a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n of th e p e a s a n t s in m a t t e r s of th e n a t i o n a n d s t at e.
On the o t h e r ha n d , o n e n e e d s to a d d tha t the r e a l i t y of the l as t y e a r s h a s t o t a l l y n e g a t e d t h e h o p e s of the a d v e r s a r i e s to the p r e s e n c e of th e s o c i a l i z e d s e c t o r in o u r a g r i c u l t u r e . L a r g e s t a t e - o w n e d f a r m s a n d c o o p e r a t i v e s in c o n d i t i o n s of i m p l a n t i n g the e c o n o m i c a l r e f o r m - t hat is in c o n d i t i o n s of i n c r e a s e d i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s e l f f i n a n c i n g d i s p l a y an i m p r o v e m e n t of e c o n o -m i c r e s u l t s and a p r o d u c t i v e v i t a l i t y . In the a g r a r i a n s t r u c -ture of all c o u n t r i e s - fo r p r o d u c t i o n , e c o n o m i c an d s o c i a l r e a -s o n -s - th e a p p r o p r i a t e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of -s m a l l ,.m e d i u m a n d l a r g e f a r m s is n e c e s s a r y . T h e l a r g e f a r m s f u l f i l l i n d i s p e n s a b l e , c h a -r a c t e -r i s t i c f u n c t i o n s : the r e a l i z a t i o n of s o m e k i n d of p r o d u c -tio n, s t a b i l i z a t i o n of the f o o d m a r k e t , the i m p l a n t a t i o n of t e c h n i c a l a n d b i o l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s , e m p l o y m e n t of i n d i v i d u a l s i n -c a p a b l e of i n d e p e n d e n t f a r m - w o r k , et-c. It is i m p o r t a n t th at w h i l e t h e y a r e e n a b l e d to f u l f i l l t h e s e s p e c i f i c f u n c t i o n s , t h e y s h o u l d n o t be at th e s a m e t i m e t r e a t e d e s p e c i a l l y f r o m an i d e o l o g i c a l p o i n t of v i e w as a m o d e l for g e n e r a l i z i n g for the f u -t u r e of -the v i l l a g e a n d a g r i c u l -t u r e . It b e c o m e s at th e sam e t i m e o b v i o u s th a t in the c o n d i t i o n s of a s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m t h o s e l a r g e f a r m s c a n n o t b e c o m e c a p i t a l i s t c o n c e r n s . It is a l s o o n l y n a t u r a l - t h o u g h , of c o u r s e , h i g h l y u n d e s i r a b l e - t h a t t he y v ar y f r o m g o o d to b a d - a p h e n o m e n o n w h i c h a l s o a p p e a r s in i n d i v i d u a l f a r m i n g . 3. The s t e r e o t y p e of " c l e a r ” r a t i o n a l i t y , t o t a l s t e e r a b i l i t y an d n o n - c o n f l i c t m e c h a n i s m s of d e v e l o £ m e n t Ho w d e l u s i v e , an d h o w h a r m f u l is the c o m m o n c o n v i c t i o n th at th e d e v e l o p m e n t a l p r o c e s s e s c a n or s h o u l d p r o c e e d a u t o m a t i c a l l y ,
as if pu t in to a c t i o n by the r a t i o n a l or " r i g h t f u l " r e g u l a t i o n s an d p l a n i s t i c d e c i s i o n s , r e s u l t i n g a u t o m a t i c a l l y f r o m an a b s t r a c t w i s d o m and a l l - p o w e r of a u t h o r i t y , or the d e m o c r a t i c a l l y a t t a i n -ed " w i l l of m a j o r i t y " . Th e c o m m o n n e s s of s u c h u t o p i a n a s s e s s m e n t of the s o c i a l r e a l i t y is not, of c o u r s e , an a c c i d e n t a l " s t u p i d i -ty" of th e m a s s or t h e i r l e a d e r s . It r e s u l t s f r o m an e n o r m o u s d e v e l o p m e n t of c o m p r e h e n s i v e an d t e c h n i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s of the c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y w h i c h e x t r a p o l a t e s in an u n a u t h o r i z e d m a n -ner i n t o the s p h e r e of s t r i c t l y s o c i a l i m p l a n t e d a c t i o n s . In our s y s t e m t h e r e s t i l l e x i s t s a f a l s e wa y of c o m p r e h e n d i n g the way of a c h i e v i n g s o c i a l i s m as a w a y of s i m p l e a p p l i c a t i o n of a re a d y t h e o r y of s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m an d a w i d e l y a p p l i e d f o r m of p r o -p a g a t i n g t his k i n d of s u -p e r i o r i t y of s o c i a l i s m o v e r c a -p i t a l i s m . M e a n w h i l e , re al p h e n o m e n a a n d p r o c e s s e s ar e e n g a g e d in d e t e r m i n -ed d i s c r e p a n c i e s of a s p i r a t i o n s an d i n t e r e s t s of different g r o u p s a n d f r a c t i o n s of s o c i e t y , o f t e n e v e n c o m p r e h e n d e d f a l s e l y and s h o r t s i g h t e d l y , w h a t b e c a m e so s h a r p l y s e e n in the r e l a t i o n s b e -t w e e n c i -t y an d v i l l a g e in -the l as-t y e ar s, as w e l l as in the v i l -l a g e it se -lf.
On the o t h e r h a n d b e a u r o c r a c y , on th e o t h e r a c e r t a i n pa r t of the w o r k i n g c l a s s fe el i n t e r e s t e d in " r u l i n g " o v e r th e p e a -sant, in e x p l o i t i n g h i m to f i n a l li mi ts, in b l o c k i n g f r o m h i m p o s s i b i l i t i e s of a c h i e v i n g w e a l t h e v e n t h r o u g h h a r d and w i s e l a -bo ur, a l t h o u g h in the l o n g ru n it m i g h t lea d to t h e n e x t fo od c r i s i s . The d e s i r e d d i r e c t i o n of the d e v e l o p m e n t of a g r i c u l t u r e an d v i l l a g e e n t e r s the n int o a s p h e r e of d i s c r e p a n c i e s w i t h any b e a u r o c r a t i z a t i o n and w i t h to o e q a l i t a r i a n t e n d e n c i e s , p r e s e n t a f t e r all in the v i l l a g e and a m o n g th e p e a s a n t s t h e m s e l v e s
The p r o b l e m t h o u g h is s i g n i f i c a n t l y de e p e r : a m i n e r w o r k i n g on f ree f r o m w o r k S a t u r d a y s f i n d s no r e a s o n s for e n v y i n g the f a r m e r hi s w e a l t h , but s u c h r e a s o n s s e e m to be p r e s e n t fo r th e w o r k e r , c l e r k or e n g i n e e r who is d e p r i v e d by a s y s t e m of g o v e r n i n g an d m a -n a g i -n g m e a -n s of p r o d u c t i o -n by p o o r m a -n a g e m e -n t , the o r g a -n i z a t i o -n or t e c h n o l o g y of p r o d u c t i o n - of the p o s s i b i l i t y of m a x i m a l i z i n g the q u a n t i t y and q u a l i t y of his e f f o r t s an d of a c h i e v i n g pa y c o r -r e s p o n d i n g to t h e s e e f f o -r t s . T h i s p o i n t s to th e f a c t tha t the s u c c e s s of the e c o n o m i c a l r e f o r m w h i c h w o u l d g i v e to p o s s i b l y e v e r y o n e the till n o w p e a s a n t p r i v i l i g e of i n c r e a s i n g i n c o m e t h r o u g h an i n c r e a s e d a m o u n t of wo rk, in t h i s s e n s e d e c i d e s ab o u t
the f u t u r e of th e v i l l a g e , c o n s t r u c t i n g an o b j e c t i v e c o m m u n i t y of i n t e r e s t s an d r u l e s of b e h a v i o u r as a b a s i s fo r an e f f e c t i v e p e a -s a n t - w o r k e r a l l i a n c e .
At t h i s p o i n t the a c t i v i t y of the v i l l a g e i t s e l f and th e p e a -s a n t i-s the g r e a t e r n e c e -s -s i t y - not o n l y at th e l e v e l of l o c a l -s e l f - - g o v e r n m e n t and t h r o u g h the a c t i v i t i e s of s o c i a l an d l a b o u r organiz a t i o n s . The t r u l y i n d i s p e n s a b l e a c t i v i t y is first of all the a u t h e n -ti c p o l i t i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of th e v i l l a g e and p e a s a n t c l a s s s u c h a p e a s a n t par-ty w h i c h d o e s no t p o s s e s s th e f o r m a l p o w e r of c o n s t r u c t i n g the s t a t e s y s t e m a n d f r o n t a l to i n s t i t u t i o n s of c o -o p e r a t i -o n , b u t p o s s e s s e s it s o w n s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l for c e s , c a n b e c o m e an e f f e c t i v e p a r t n e r for t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s in the so- - c a l l e d c o a l i t i o n s y s t e m of e x e r c i s i n g p ow e r . T hi s m u s t be c o m -p r e h e n d e d by the f a r m e r s t h e m s e l v e s , a n d th e p r e s e n t l i v e l i n e s s and s t r e n g t h e n i n g of th e U n i t e d P e a s a n t P a r t y a r o u s e s s o m e hop e. Its p r o g r a m m e s e t s th e t a s k of s t r u g g l i n g fo r no t o n l y t h e e c o n o m i c , s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l p a r i t y of th e v i l l a g e , b u t a p o l i t i -cal one as w el l. It c a l l s on the t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i a l an d p o l i t i c a l i d e a s of the p e a s a n t m o v e m e n t , a n d on t h e c e r t a i n e l e m e n t s of a g r a r i s m an d p o p u l i s m . M e a n w h i l e , it is g e n e r a l l y k n o w n t h a t m u l t i p l e p r o a g r i c u l t u -ral d e c i s i o n s an d m o r e g e n e r a l r e s o l u t i o n s los e t h e i r p o w e r of e n t a c t m e n t at th e c e n t r a l a n d l o c a l l e v e l s . As an e x a m p l e the ac-c e p t e d as a p r i n ac-c i p l e i n ac-c o m e p a r i t y h a s b e e n in t h e la s t few y e a r s s e r i o u s l y i n f r i n g e d . S i m i l a r l y the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a g r i -c u l t u r e in th e i n v e s t m e n t f u n d is d e f i n i t e l y l o w e r t h a n the on e f o r m a l l y a g r e e d u p o n at the h i g h e s t level. T h u s t h e s e are not i s s u e s of an ill or g o o d w i l l of the a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e i r m i s t a k e s or w i s d o m , bu t l i v e s p o n t a n e o u s s o c i a l p r o c e s s e s , c o l l i s i o n s of c l a s s a n d g r o u p i n t e r e s t s . B e s i d e s th e s y s t e m of g u i d a n c e in the s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m is h i g h l y i n e f f i c i e n t . 4. Th e s t e r e o t y p e of in n e r h a r m o n y an d c o n s i s t e n c e of the p e a s a n t e c o n o m y The f u t u r e of th e v i l l a g e an d a g r i c u l t u r e is c o n d i t i o n e d no t o n l y t h r o u g h its r e l a t i o n s to o t h e r s e c t i o n s of the e c o n o m y and f r a c t i o n s of the s o c i e t y . S p e c i f i c d i s c r e p a n c i e s , r e s t r a i n t s and
d a n g e r s of d e v e l o p m e n t are c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e m as w el l. Th e r e a l s o e x i s t d e e p d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s b e t w e e n s e c t o r s , i n n e r and r e -g i o n a l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s . But s e t t i n -g the t e c h n i c a l and e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s a s i d e an d l i m i t i n g o n e s e l f o n l y to p e a s a n t f a r m i n g , we s h o u l d t u r n ou r a t t e n t i o n to its i n n e r d i s c r e p a n c i e s , to the s t r i c -tly s o c i a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s an d to it s d e f e c t s . The f a m i l y m a n u f a c t u r i n g p l a n t c o n s t i t u t e s , e s p e c i a l l y in agri-c u l t u r e , a s o agri-c i a l l y an d p s y agri-c h o l o g i agri-c a l l y a t t r a agri-c t i v e form . One n e e d s o n l y to p o i n t to the h i g h d e g r e e of s e l f - d e p e n d e n c e , the r e s i l i e n c e of a c t i v i t i e s , the s p e c i f i c c o m b i n a t i o n of m a n a g e m e n t a n d la b o u r , p h y s i c a l an d i n t e l l e c t u a l w ork , th e v a l u e s of the f a m i l y as of a p r o d u c t i o n g r oup, an e c o n o m i c a l l y and c u l t u r a l l y m o t i v a t e d d i s c i p l i n e an d s e l f - c o n t r o l . B u t the s i n g l e f u n d a m e n t a l d e f e c t of th e p e a s a n t f a r m is th e s y s t e m of f a m i l y s e l f - e x p l o i t a t i o n , c o n s t r a i n t for the sa k e of c o n t i n u o u s w ork , and c o n s t a n t r e a d i n e s s for wo rk . Thi s c o m e s as a r e s u l t of b o t h d e m a n d s of n a t u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t an d a f a m i l y o r g a n i z a t i o n of p r o d u c t i o n . B e s i d e c e r t a i n f o r m s of f a r m i n g and r a t h e r i n t r o d u c t o r y e x p e r i m e n t s in o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i n n o v a t i o n s in the n o r m a l f arm th e f a m i l y is p r a c t i c a l l y i r r e p l a c e a b l e and a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y s u b s e r v i e n t to the n e e d s of th e farm. Progress in t e c h n o l o g y and a g r i c u l t u r a l c u l t i v a t i o n on o n e h a n d al la ys, and on the o t h e r l i t e r a l l y i n c r e a s e s the s u b s e r v i e n c y .
Thi s s i t u a t i o n e x c l u d e s the u r b a n n o t i o n of f r e e time, or in o t h e r w o r d s the p o s s i b i l i t y of a s y s t e m a t i c a n d prolonged p e -r i o d of t i m e f -ree f -r o m wo-rk. T h i s b l o c k s or s i g n i f i c a n t l y l i m i t s th e c h a n c e of r e a l i z i n g c e r t a i n i m p o r t a n t and m o r e an d m o r e o f te n d e s i r e d f o r m s of c o n s u m i n g th e e f f e c t s of wo rk, s u c h as v a -c a t i o n leav e, h e a l t h , t o u r i s m or c u l t u r e . B e s i d e s , the i d e n t i f i -c a t i o n of i n d i v i d u a l an d f a m i l y b o n d s - in the p e r s p e -c t i v e of e a c h d a y and w h o l e l i f e p a r a l i z e s t e n d e n c i e s to i n d i v i d u a l i z a -t i o n an d n o n - m a -t e r i a l i z a -t i o n of s o c i a l r e l a -t i o n s h i p s .
The n e g a t i v e s e l e c t i o n for the p r o f e s s i o n , the m i g r a t i o n of w o m en, l ac k of s u c c e s o r s are all r e s u l t s of c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s an d c a n n o t be c o n s i d e r e d on l y as the p r o t e s t a g a i n s t c u l tu r a l an d c i v i l i z a t i o n a l r e t a r d a t i o n of the v i l l a g e an d a c a p -t i v a -t i o n by u r b a n my-t hs .
All this a l l o w s us to b e l i e v e t hat o n e c a n n o t a p r i o r i f o r e -j u d g e th e as if e v e r l a s t i n g d u r a b i l i t y of p e a s a n t f a r m i n g . The
f a m i l y p e a s a n t f a r m d o e s n o t h a v e to c o n s t i t u t e the o n l y or e v e n m a i n f o r m of f u t u r e fo r P o l i s h a g r i c u l t u r e . B u t w h a t c o u n t s is th a t t h e p e a s a n t s t h e m s e l v e s s h o u l d p o s s e s s a t r u e p o s s i b i l i t y of a c h o i c e a n d e q u a l i t y of c h a n c e s , a n d it s h o u l d be a c h o i c e out of a r a n g e of p o s s i b i l i t i e s . S u m m i n g up, I e n c l o s e a f e w r e m a r k s a b o u t th e c h a n c e s of s u r v i v a l f o r th e p e a s a n t v i l l a g e - w i t h s u c h a p e r s p e c t i v e in t i m e w h i c h is r e l e v a n t to t h e p r e s e n t l y f a r m i n g g e n e r a t i o n . An d t h u s in t o d a y s c o n t e m p o r a r y w o r l d of p o l a r i z e d i d e o l o g i e s and p o l i t i c a l an d s o c i a l s y s t e m s t h e r e e x i s t s a s u r p r i s i n g c o n s e n s u s of o p i n i o n in a p p r e h e n d i n g an d t r e a t i n g p e a s a n t s . B o t h t h e l i b e ral d o c t r i n e s ( an d c o r r e s p o n d i n g p r a c t i c e of d e v e l o p e d c a p i t a l i s -tic c o u n t r i e s ) as w e l l as t h e i d e o l o g y an d t h e o r y of o r t h o d o x M a r k s i s m (a nd th e r e s u l t i n g p o l i c i e s of t h e s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s ) r e c o g n i s e p e a s a n t r y - q u o t i n g G P l e k h a n o v - as " n o n - e x i s t e n t , h i s t o r i c a l l y s p e a k i n g " . T h i s " i d e o l o g y of d e p e a s a n t a t i o n " is b r o u g h t d o w n to th e f o l l o w i n g " a r t i c l e of fa i t h " : "In o n e w a y or a n o t h e r , t h e p e a s a n t s u l t i m a t e l y w i l l h a v e to be s a c r i f i c e d u p o n t h e a l t a r s of i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n to th e t h i r s t y g o d s of m o d e r n i t y an d p r o g r e s s . Th e q u e s t i o n is o n l y h o w k i n d l y or h o w c r u e l l y the s a c r i f i c e is to be m a d e " . T h i s c o i n c i d e n c e of c o n c l u s i o n s d o e s n o t m e a n the c o m m o n n e s s of p r e m i s e s . Q u i t e to the c o n t r a r y - in th e l i b e r a l d o c t r i n e p e a s a n t s a r e i r r a t i o n a l , u n e c o n o m i c a l and p r i m i t i v e r e l i c of t h e p as t, an d t h e i r d i s a p p e a r a n c e is both the c o n d i t i o n a n d th e r e s u l t of th e c o m p l e t e m o d e r n i z a t i o n of the s o c i e t y ; in t h e s o c i a l i s t d o c t r i n e t h e y ar e th e p o t e n t i a l s e e d of c a p i t a l i s m , an d t h u s t h e i r l i q u i d a t i o n ( d e m i s e ) c o n s t i t u t e s th e i n d i s p e n s a b l e e l e m e n t of th e c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m . T h e r e f o r e the s u r v i v a l of P o l i s h p e a s a n t r y is e n d a n g e r e d f r o m s e v e r a l d i r e c t i o n s an d by s e v e r a l f a c t o r s . F r o m o u t s i d e - by th e m o d e r n i z a t i o n a l p r o c e s s e s an d t h e i r i d e o l o g i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s (it w a s n e v e r an accident- t h a t the p e a s a n t v i l l a g e r e v i v e d in th e t i m e s of c r i s i s an d d i r e c t l y a f t e r c r i s e s ) . F r o m i n s i d e by d e c a y i n g c a p a b i l i t y of a p e a s a n t f a m i l y to s e l f - e x p l o i t a t i o n in p e c u l i a r to it r e g i m e of o v e r w o r k an d u n d e r c o n s u m p t i o n . These ar e d e e p d a n g e r s , r e a c h i n g fa r b e y o n d th e s o c i a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s . The a t t e m p t to c o n t e m p l a t e the c h a n c e s to r e s i s t t h e s e d a n g e r s c o n s t i t u t e s th e c e n t r a l t a s k of the r u r a l s o c i a l th e o r y . It is a d i f f i c u l t q u e s t i o n , b u t c e r t a i n p o i n t s s e e m to be e v i d e n t her e.
F i r s t l y , the s u r v i v a l of at l e a s t c e r t a i n e l e m e n t s of p e a s a n - t r i e n e s s c a n n o t be d o n e on th e b a s i s of s t a y i n g o u t f r o m the a b o v e p r o b l e m s ; to th e c o n t r a r y it r e q u i r e s c h a n g e s an d d e v e -l o p m e n t of th e p e a s a n t v i -l -l a g e , its c o m p l e x m o d e r n i z a t i o n c a r -r i e d on in a p o l i t i c a l c o o p e -r a t i o n b e t w e e n the s t a t e an d p e a -s a n t -s t h e m -s e l v e -s . S e c o n d l y e v e n the p r o g r e s s i n g d e c a y of p e a -s a n t r y in th e c o n d i t i o n -s of -s o c i a l i -s t -s y -s t e m d o e -s no t h a v e to m e a n the t r a n s m u t a t i o n of p e a s a n t s i n t o s t a t e o w n e d or c o o p e r a -t i v e f a r m w o r k e r s ; to th e c o n t r a r y , th e n o n p e a s a n t bu t s t i l l f a -m i l y f a r -m i n g i n t e g r a t e d v e r t i c a l l y in the s y s t e -m of socialist food e c o n o m y is a l r e a d y p o s s i b l e . T h i r d l y - the d e c l i n e of th e p e a s a n t v i l l a g e w o u l d no t n e c e s s a r i l y b u r y all its s p e c i f i c v a l u e s - to th b c o n t r a r y , e v e r y t h i n g v a l u a b l e in p e a s a n t ’s f a r m i n g , s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s and c u l t u r e c a n a n d s h o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d . Th u s th e P o -l i s h r u r a -l s o c i a -l t h e o r y o u g h t to t h i n k on a p e a s a n t - o r i e n t e d b a s i s . T h i s is its b a s i c i n t e l l e c t u a l c h a l l e n g e as w el l as an e l e m e n t a r y s o c i a l duty. Mieczysław Kowalski W I E Ś C H Ł O P S K A W P O L S C E - N I E K T Ó R E U W A G I Q Z A C O F A N I U I W A R U N K A C H R O Z W O J U Z a c o f a n i e wsi i r o l n i c t w a w s t o s u n k u do m i a s t a i p r z e m y s ł u jest ź r ó d ł e m f a ł s z y w y c h m i t ó w i s t e r e o t y p ó w . N o w o c z e s n o ś c i i a t r a k c y j n o ś ci m i a s t a D r z e c i w s t a w i a s i ę t r a d y c j o n a l i z m , k o n s e r w a t y z m i c i e m -n o t ę wsi i jej m i e s z k a ń c ó w . S z k o d l i w e dl a r z e c z y w i s t e g o p o s t ę p u i w ł a ś c i w e j o c e n y m i e j s c a i rol i wsi w m a k r o s t r u k t u r z e s t e r e o t y p y d o t y c z g m. in. : 1) d r u g o r z ę d n o ś c i c zy p e r y f e r y j n o ś c i w si i r o l n i c t w a w g o s p o -d a r c e , p o l i t y c e , k u l t u r z e n a r o -d o w e j i t p , 2) b e z w z g l ę d n o ś c i w y ż s z o ś c i e k o n o m i c z n e j cz y i d e o l o g i c z n e j i n -n y c h f o r m o r g a -n i z a c y j -n y c h w r o l -n i c t w i e a n i ż e l i i n d y w i d u a l n e r o -d z i n n e g o s p o -d a r s t w o c h ł o p s k i e , 3) " c z y s t e j " r a c j o n a l n o ś c i , p e ł n e j s t e r o w n o ś c i i b e z k o n f l i k t o - w o ś c i m e c h a n i z m ó w r o z w o j u , 4) w e w n e t r z n e j h a r m o n i i i s p ó j n o ś c i g o s p o d a r k i c h ł o p s k i e j . P r z e t r w a n i e p o l s k i e g o c h ł o p s t w a z a g r o ż o n e je s t z w i e l u s t r o n i p r z e z w i e l e c z y n n i k ó w . W y m a g a o n o z m i a n i w i e l o s t r o n n e j m o d e r -n i z a c j i ws i c h ł o p s k i e j r e a l i z o w a n e j we w s p ó ł d z i a ł a n i u p o l i t y k i p a ń s t w a i s a m y c h c h ł o p ó w . Z m i e r z c h t r a d y c y j n e j wsi c h ł o p s k i e j nie o z n a c z a p o g r z e b a n i a w s z y s t k i c h w ł a ś c i w y c h jej w a r t o ś c i , p o n i e w a ż można i n a l e ż y u t r z y m a ć to, co b y ł o c e n n e w c h ł o p s k i m g o s p o d a r o w a -niu, w s p ó ł ż y c i u s p o ł e c z n y m i k u l t u r z e .
