Formy aktywności obywatelskiej Polaków

The forms of Poles’ civic activity

CIVIC ACTIVITY INCLUDES the spheres of social life, in which the state gives up its prerogatives in favor of engaged and participating in community’s state life society. This is expressed through common and conscious actions aimed at the formulation, implementation and defense of the interests, needs, aspirations and values of a social group and/or its members. It is spontaneous and voluntary activity created from the bottom up, taking place at two levels: (1) declarative, in which the entity recognizes the risks and problems, cares about them and promises to take specific actions to improve the situation and on the level (2) of participating, on which the entity gets involved in the development of civil society by participating in the elections, the establishment of civic organizations (being an emanation of civil society), undertaking part in their work and volunteering, providing support for the government as well as formatting of the protests and participating in legitimate protests and demonstrations. The undertaken activity is aimed at changing the behavior and attitudes of other people. It is then somewhat an educational activity, shaping public awareness based on a voluntary and spontaneous participation of citizens. This includes coverage for both one-off and long-term, taken locally, regionally and globally activities. All kinds of activities construct civil society, enabling citizens to participate in democracy, learn to work together and influence the important methods for the community and the decision to form a true picture of civic engagement.