Managing the revitalization process : between populism and participation

Bibliogr. s. 128

The goal of the article is to analyze management of the revitalization process in the context of the occurrence of both populist and participatory behaviors. The main task of revitalization, enshrined in the Act of 9 October 2015 on revitalization, it is to remove from the crisis state areas classified as degraded. Activities in this area should be conducted in a comprehensive manner and focus on the needs of the local community, space and the economy. Practice in many cases shows the lack of a coherent concept of revitalization, integrating the interests of the triad mentioned above. Financial resources obtained for the implementation of revitalization projects are treated as a kind of "repair fund" and are allocated to a large extent on infrastructure projects ("hard projects"), while marginalizing the importance of social projects ("soft projects"), serving the development of the community connected with the revitalized area. Therefore, it is so important that the authorities responsible for managing the revitalization process can appreciate the value of social participation. It is, after all, an inherent element of the revitalization process, and the omission or minimization of its significance brings tangible damage. Participatory governance, in contrast to activities based on populist rhetoric, is a guarantee of stability and long-term character of the revitalization process.