Understanding Rural Revival
Dynamics of Community Ties and Place‐Based Leadership
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21394446 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Katarzyna Kajdanek (0000-0003-4264-0842, University of Wrocław, corresponding author), Agnieszka Latocha (0000-0001-7292-5043, University of Wrocław), Dominik Sikorski (0000-0003-2612-3490, University of Wrocław), Przemysław Tomczak (0000-0002-6444-5303, University of Wrocław), Robert Szmytkie (0000-0001-6415-9342, University of Wrocław) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 66 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociologia Ruralis (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-0199 • E-ISSN: 1467-9523 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/soru.70048 |
| OpenAlex | W7167635971 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 91 |
This study explores the role of social capital and place‐based leadership in the revival of rural communities in the Kłodzko region of southwestern Poland. Through a mixed‐methods approach combining survey data from 20 villages and interviews with local leaders, the research reveals the unique social capital endowments of reviving villages. Compared to national tendencies, these communities display dense social networks, high local engagement and elevated trust levels, providing fertile ground for community revival. However, the successful mobilisation of this social capital depends heavily on the strategic actions of local leaders. The study identifies four key leadership strategies: balanced communication that bridges digital and face‐to‐face interactions, inclusive community‐building that fosters participation, adaptive leadership that demonstrates flexibility and patience and sustainable development visions that prioritise local identity and wellbeing. The findings underscore the pivotal role of the social capital–leadership nexus in shaping rural futures and the need for rural development policies to explicitly support these critical social resources. By shedding light on the micro‐level social dynamics of rural revival, this research contributes to a more holistic understanding of the complex factors driving rural change and informs the design of more effective, context‐sensitive revitalisation strategies
Community development · Community engagement · Futures contract · Nexus (standard) · Rural management · Rural sociology · Social capital · Social dynamics · Vision · Community and Sustainable Development · Rural development and sustainability · Social Capital and Networks
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |