Pułapka ekonomizmu. U źródeł dominacji neoliberalnej narracji modernizacyjnej w Polsce

• Published in: Przegląd socjologiczny Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 69 - 88
• Main Author: Anioł, Włodzimierz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Lodz Scientific Society 2015; Łódzkie Towarzystwo Naukowe
• Subjects: Social Sciences; economism; Poland; neoliberal narrative; modernisation
• ISSN: 0033-2356

The aim of this article is to provide an analysis of the symptoms and genesis of neoliberal economism, which plays a key role in the public discourse in contemporary Poland. The author examines its significance in many areas of social life and in public policies, which are often reduced to just their economic dimensions. In particular, the main focus is placed on appearance of this narrative in Poland at the critical juncture of the systemic transformation following the fall of communism in 1989, i.e. in the period of the preparation and implementation of the economic “shock therapy” in the years 1989-1991. Several external and domestic reasons underlying adoption of the concept of rapid and radical market reforms (known as the ‘Balcerowicz Plan’) at that time are discussed. By presenting some consequences of the expansion of a purely economic perspective into noneconomic domains such as social services, the article draws attention to importance of institutional inertia and path dependence in Poland’s developmental trajectory. The reflections are inspired by the constructivist approach and sociological institutionalism, which place stress on the large impact of public discourses, narratives, and language on social change.