Locality and social capital revival as local development assets in Ukraine: the case of rural areas in Khmelnytskyi Region

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to discuss the issues of localism and social capital revival as important factors of local and regional development of rural areas in Khmenlytskyi Oblast in Ukraine. The paper shows an anthropological perspective on the processes of social change and overcoming the effects of socialism in the sphere of mentality, attitudes and life orientations local communities. Design/methodology/approach: Presented material refers to the empirical data obtained during fieldwork in the Khmelnytskyi region in 2018. The field study was conducted in three local communities in using ethnographic methods in order to analyze and describe the socio15 cultural effects of the political transformation that currently occur in rural areas. The research was based on the practical application of the concept of post-socialism and methodology developed by social anthropologists. Findings: The question of rural areas development concerns the mobilization of local resources and given examples illustrate, that this process has already started in Ukraine. Local communities in rural areas are characterized by a “long duration”, and therefore are relatively resistant to change. Communism legacy is an obstacle, hindering rebuilding subjectivity in former Soviet countries. Overcoming resentments connected with transition applies mainly to inhabitants of rural areas. The ongoing decentralization stimulates locality and social capital renewal. Research limitations/implications: Rural areas in post-Soviet countries as a research area allow to observe both relics of the past and signs of social change. Conducted research made it possible to indicate the behaviors and attitudes characteristic of the previous system, as well as new practices establishing the foundations of civil society. Studies on rural areas development still require many in-depth qualitative and quantitative research. Social implications: The interest in locality as a social phenomenon and a subject of analysis, has been changing. Return to the concept of locality in social sciences is related to the importance of locality in the process of social change – in that way locality becomes a dynamic and global problem associated with the activities of individuals, groups, institutions, policies and social processes. Originality/value: Theoretical and empirical identification of interdependence between factors of “persistence” and “change” in selected local communities in rural areas in Khmenlytskyi Oblast.