Zeszyty Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego Jana Pawła II

The Role of Values and Norms in Triggering Social Capital

Witold Jedynak — 2026-03-31

The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of values and moral norms in generating social capital, a fundamental component of civil society. This study was developed based on the analysis of secondary sources. It has been found that moral values and norms are key determinants in the quality of social capital resources. When social capital creation is founded on recognised values and moral norms, such capital becomes a resource that encourages social development. It enhances social solidarity, fosters trust, and forms the foundation for collaborative efforts towards the common good. However, when the axionormative system is excluded from social capital generation, it assumes a ‘dirty’ form, benefiting only a small group of privileged individuals.

“They Need Writers”: A Sociological View on Narratives of State and Revolution

Paweł Ćwikła — 2026-03-31

In states established as a result of a victorious revolution, literature is often subordinated to the project of building the new political and social order. The aim of this article is to compare the role of writers in Bolshevik Russia with the role of poets in Plato’s concept of the ideal state. For this purpose a comparative and interpretive analysis is employed, contrasting the normative model (Plato) with the historical experience of the 20th-century totalitarian state. It can be observed that in a revolutionary state, literature loses its autonomy and becomes a kind of tool for the ideologization of society and the legitimization of power. Instead of reflecting and helping to understand reality, it constructs an ideological image of it subordinated to political goals. To control the literature is therefore one of the factors contributing to the perpetuation of a totalitarian system.

Effect of hypogamy on lifestyle in Poland

Henryk Domański — 2026-03-31

The increase in educational hypogamy in Poland, i.e., a situation where wives have higher education than their husbands, modifies marriage selection patterns. This may influence cultural preferences, status hierarchy and the dynamics of family relations. The aim of this article is to examine whether educational hypogamy affects the lifestyle of spouses, understood as cultural preferences and patterns of prestige, and whether it is stronger than the effect of hypergamy. The analysis is based on data from a nationwide survey conducted in 2019. It shows that educational hypogamy increases the chances of liking and impressing with goods considered status symbols. Importantly, its impact is stronger than that of hypergamy. The hypothesis that hypogamy and hypergamy have a relatively equal impact on individuals’ attitudes is not confirmed. These findings lead to the conclusion that educational hypogamy can both weaken class barriers and generate tensions resulting from the inconsistency of the spouses’ status. One can assume that educational hypogamy affects also other aspects of spousal relations related to family functioning that need be research.

Combating Human Trafficking in Africa: The Experiences of the HAART Kenya Organization

Krzysztof Jurek — 2026-03-31

Human trafficking remains one of the fastest-growing crimes in Africa, driven by overlapping structural crises, poverty, and historical forms of exploitation. In this context, grassroots initiatives and non-governmental organizations gain particular significance due to their capacity to respond flexibly to local needs. The aim of this article is to analyze the activities of Awareness Against Human Trafficking (HAART) Kenya as an example of an effective, integrated approach to combating human trafficking that combines preventive measures, individualized support, and academic and community-based collaboration. Particular attention is devoted to HAART’s cooperation with the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of HAART Kenya reports and the scholarly literature on human trafficking. The findings indicate that the integration of preventive actions, individualized support plans, and multisectoral cooperation enhances the effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts in Africa. The application of Stevan E. Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory enables a more accurate identification of survivors’ needs and supports their process of readaptation.

The Man as an Incomplete Value in Władysław Stróżewski’s Considerations

Adrian Biela — 2026-03-31

The philosophy of values, as conceptualized and reflected upon by Władysław Stróżewski, directly addressed the axiological dimension of human life as a subject realizing values and simultaneously being a value. The imperfection of the human being causes it to be subject to constant change, and therefore, it is not a complete value. A person becomes something throughout their personal life. The purpose of this article is to present Władysław Stróżewski’s reflections on the axiological structure of man as an incomplete value. The analysis utilizes dialectical and phenomenological methods. Stróżewski posits that humans become within the realm of values, confronting them. Humans are dependent on values and their realization. Humans themselves are values, but incomplete due to their imperfection. This implies the necessity of facing the fact of choosing values, sometimes experiencing pain and shame due to the choices made. Values in their lives are realized through action, and they themselves bear the responsibility for implementing them.

Antoni Dębiński, Magdalena Pyter, Portraits of Polish Legal Historians. The Second Polish Republic, Werset Publishing House, Lublin 2024, pp. 688.

Eugeniusz Sakowicz — 2026-03-31