Rabindranath Tagore and His Idea of ALL-Human Unity.The aim of the paper is to out1ine and bring closer the personality of an outstanding 20 th century Indian humanist and educator, and to discuss the main philosophical and sociological ideas present in his writing, especially the utopian project of all-human unity (viśvamanava). The author of the paper points to the historical and intellectual background of Tagore's conceptions and argues for the continuous relevance of his observations and conclusions expressed in his philosophical essays, poetry and novels. What is referred to as the most significant feature of the Indian thinker's point of view is his highly critical evaluation of nationalism, narrow-minded patriotism and xenophobia. Moreover, the paper discusses some pedagogical and ecological ideas of the founder of Viśva-Bharati University, as well as his universal project of a great synthesis of the traditional ideaIs of the East - including Indian, Chinese and Japanese culture - with modern science and patterns of thinking typical of the Western cultural tradition.

The ReLigious Fact as a SociaL Fact in Stefan Czarnowski' s Idea.The work presents Czarnowski's views on religion. It is mainly an attempt at defining his approach (methodology) towards religion. Czarnowski based his re- search on the sociological method applied by E. Durkheim. According to that method, religious facts are sociological facts conditioned by the existence of the community. Those facts are external and objective in relation to the individual, just as the natural objects and phenomena. Social facts form a separate reality which is the subject of sociological research. While applying that method, Czarnowski maintained a certain originality in his specific studies of religion and culture.

Stanisław Ossowski on Patriotism and Cosmopolitism. The author believes that the relations between the individual and the society are of the greatest dilemmas of social life. Depending on how we understand the society, there emerge two contradietory attitudes of patriotism and cosmopolitism against he background of those relations. Patriotism, apart from the love to motherland, does not reject universal human ide- aIs. Cosmopolitism, on the contrary, does not recognize motherland. These notions are eon- tradictory. S. Ossowski analyses patriotism first of all as a psychological phenomenon. It consists in a specific relationship of the person with the homeland, which is not free of certain meta- physics. Cosmopolitans are radical, they consider love to the homeland an illusion. The whole earth should the homeland for everybody, and the whole humanity - the nation. It is only its prosperity that can assure the prosperity for all individuals.

Society on the Stage - Erving Goffman's Idea and the Cognitive Linguistics.The article explores the problem of functioning of the "cultureme" - a cultural metaphor of the world perceived as a linguistic theatre - the cognitivistic notion apparatus has served to analyse the functioning of a metaphor in the sociological theory of interactionism described in Erving Goffman's work The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. A result of the analysis is finding the so called loci communes, i.e. "common places", topoi - Shakespeare's common life theatre, which at the same time attests to the interdisciplinary dialogue between linguistics and sociology. Goffman needed to refer human life to the theatre not only as a sociologist creating a theory and requiring a descriptive tool, but also as a man who participates in the interaction process himself. Thus, for Goffman, theatre puts social reality in order; it is an "indispensable condition to experience it and to know it", and at the same time, it constitutes the point of departure to create a universal theory bases on the cultureme.

Iteractive Identity. Opportunities and Limitations of the Individualistic Model of Socialisation in Poland.The article discusses the issue of constructing the interactive identity in the context of the systemic changes which took place in Poland after 1989. The transformations of the social, cultural and political system, and the new principles of organization of the social life almost in all its aspects, seem to be conducive to popularization of the individualistie model of socia- lization. That in turn, implies different conditions of creation of the interactive identity, which is clearly visible on different levels of social interaction. Furthermore, three threads are subject of the analysis: processes of individualization, as basic to the reconstruction of interpersonal relationships (including socialization relations- hips), four socialization interaction planes on which individual identities are constructed, as well as the chances and threats created by the democratization and liberalization of the rela- tionships in the state for the achievement of optimum socialization results. The connection between the individual and institutional dimension appears to be the key issue here. It is so, mainly due to the fact that the progress of subjectivization of individu- al actions frequent1y encounters the institutional inertia, also of the traditional socialization instances. Moreover, in the scope of individualistic actions, suitable patterns of conduct in relation to institutions have not been formulated. Thus, successful generation of interactive identities depends less on strengthening the sphere of individual actions, but more on working out proper coexistence of individuals and social institutions.

Elements of Gothicism in the Cultural Dimension of Cyberpunk - Triumph of Technology over the Romantic Tradition.The article is a broad attempt of showing the reader cultural conneetions between futu- ristie cyberpunk and romantic traditions of eerie Gothieism. It analyses cultural and sociolo- gical aspects of cyberpunk and its multidimensional presence in the post-modern world. The author shows the history of cyberpunk movement (from the science fiction genre to ideolo- gical movement or even quasi philosophy and quasi religion system) and its huge influence on the popular culture. Cyberpunk is also analysed as a very strong aesthetic, with its own imagery, space, and artistic creations. The most important aspect of cyberpunk are problems of relations: man - machine, and exchange of elements and influence s between the man and the machine. It also focuses on the hyper-individualism, alienation and rebellion typical for the early punk movement, and now for a post human and his social attitude. Cyberpunk as the vision of dark, apocalyptic future can also be seen as a continuation of gothic tradition. Classic elements of Gothicism like dark and eerie aesthetics, basic human fears, the unknown, mystery and immortality are just transformed into their more valid and modern forms, fitting into a new reality. Mixture of cyber culture and Gothicism is also shown as a base of new subcultures and neo-tribes connected to the alternative culture. The author also questions the substance of (post) humanity in the perspective of man - machine relations and cyberpunk vision of the future society.

GLobaLism - Towards TotaLitarianism and Utopia.One could venture the argument that globalism is a contemporary variation of the totalitarian ideology which defines the sense of political, economic and business acti- vities. The common attribute of all variants of totalitarianism was, and is, territorial expansion, and extermination of people who are racially and culturally, or politically and biologically inferior. Contemporary globalism seems to be the inheritor of that tenden- cy, adequately modified and adapted to the new status quo. Globalism proposes a new division of the world, which depends less on the demographic or military potential, but more on the economic potential and scientific and technological advancement. Tearing down the old barriers, globalism is building new ones. It divides the world into the cos- mopolitan metropolises located in the states with highly developed economy and stable political system, and the semi-peripheral states located between those metropolises and the dispersed peripheries overwhelmed by stagnation and shortage - working to the be- nefit of the world centres. That leads to modern forms of colonialism. Kant condemned colonialism already in the 18 th century. The solutions proposed by globalism are basically reminiscent of a utopia, which formu- lates recipes for overcoming at least some of the social and political problems in the world (e.g. violence, lack of peace and stability, injustice, hunger in some parts of the world). The utopian nature of globalism is a result of the assumption that thanks to suitable measures, it will be possible to remodel a human being in such a way that it suits the new system, i.e. that it rejects all of the old norms to which it used to conform, all of the habits and beliefs which could lead to new contradictions spoiling the perfection of the "new world". The ideology of globalism treats the human individual as a model which can be formed in an infinitely free and permanent way.

Aggressive Juvenile Delinquency. An Empirical Test of General Strain Theory.This paper tests R. Agnew's (1992) general strain theory of crime and delinquency tak- ing into consideration the results of social structure transformation in Poland. According to Agnew, strain theory focuses on negative relationships with others: that is, relationships in which others do not treat the individual as he or she would like to be treated. Agnew proposes a series of factors that determine whether a person will cope with strain in a criminal or eon- forming manner including level of social controI, association with criminal peers, self-esteem, attributions regarding the cause of strain. I suggeste social and situational factors, too. The main hypothesis predicts that the strain variabIes, low level of social controI, association with delinquent peers, low self-esteem, external attributions that cause strain, negative socio-situ- ational factors will have a positive effect on aggressive juvenile delinquency. This hypothesis was tested on the 2001 survey of 179 male juvenile prisoners. The data collected then suggest that general strain theory hasn't the potential to serve as a major explanation of aggressive juvenile delinquency.

Vilnius Radio Broadcasting Station and Literary Wednesdays as Active Cultural Centres in Mid-War Vilnius.The local press, including "Kurier Wileński", which belonged to the group of three big- gest newspapers shaping the public opinion in Vilnius, played a significant role in propagating the cultural development of the Vilnius environment during the twenty years of the interwar period. In its columns, we find the echoes of all of the most important artistic and cultural events, as well as the fears and anxieties tormenting the Vilnius community in those rest1ess times of constant struggle to keep Polish Vilnius. The most active cultural centres in Vilnius after 1927 included: the Vilnius Radio Station, and the Literary Wednesdays. Both of those institutions focused majority of the cultural initiatives in Vilnius. They were among the most culture-generating and attractive institutions in Vilnius. In 1927, Vilnius Branch of the Polish Radio was created under the management of Zygmunt Chamiec, and under the program su- pervision of Witold Hulewicz, one of the greatest personalities in the interwar Vilnius. In its programme assumptions, the Vilnius station was meant to be the liaison, the centre of under- standing for all nationalities of the former Lithuanian Principality. The interwar twenty years were the time of re-creation of the network of cultural and academic associations, and cultural agencies. Following the example of the large centres, such as Warsaw and Krakow, Vilnius desired to become a cultural hub concentrating people of let- ters, art, and culture. In 1925, the Polish Writers Trade Union was established. However, the actual cultural focus of Vilnius since 1927 was the literary club called "Literary Wednesdays". "Kurier Wileński" accompanied Literary Wednesdays throughout its existence, from 1927 till September 1939, encouraging readers to participate in the cultural life of Vilnius. Vilnius, the last bastion of the Polish culture in the east, in spite of its separation from the rest of the country, continued to be an active cultural centre vibrant with energy and eagerness to cet.

SiLesia versus MaLopoLska: Student Perception ot the Changes ot the PoLiticaL System.The subject of the study is the striking difference in the evaluation of the systemic changes which took place in Poland after 1989, as made by analogous groups of students from Silesia and Malopolska, observed in 2002-2003. The study was not conducted according to any assumptions made a priori - the applied method can rather be described as a natural experiment, because only the differences noticed ex post induced taking up the subject. Students from Malopolska, similarly to the majority of young people entering conscious social life in the conditions of the new system, were inclined to criticize first of all the inef- ficient reforms of education and health care. As far as other systemic changes are concerned, they rarely revealed autonomously formed opinions. Whereas, students from Silesia received all of the systemic changes with greater pessimism. They were inclined first of all to point out negative phenomena, including unemployment at the top of the list (although the rate of un- employment in Silesia at that time was among the lowest in Poland). They were also inclined to recall the times of PRL (Polish People 's Republic) with a certain nostalgia. Explanation of those differences is related to the sense of frustration pervading the whole region, observed by many researchers, resulting from economic and prestige-symbolic deg- radation which Silesia was experiencing after the plight of the mining industry, which played the leading role in PRL.