Local civic engagement – drivers, threats, diversity. Patterns of engagement in homeowner associations

Abstract

The article focuses on local civic engagement, considered as an important element of urban development. Literature review indicates the drivers of civic community engagement: education, earnings, neighbourhood bonds, place attachment, social networks, general social activity, life phase, community size, local problems, relationships within community, local leaders, cultural characteristic of region and local political culture. Diverse types of civic engagement are characterised. The growing popularity of homeowner associations (HOA) in Poland raises a question about how they shape civic life in urban areas. Some researchers argue that HOA membership involves taking part in the decision making process. This gives the feeling of influence, increases the local engagement and strengthens civic attitude. Others claim that the sense of belonging to HOA results in low sense of responsibility for the rest of the area or the city. Can the residents’ engagement in HOA be regarded as an expression of civic involvement? The answer is based on the results of the cross-case study of eleven HOAs, conducted by the Author. It presents the aspects of HOA’s activity that refer to civic attitudes. It focuses on the way dwellers define HOA’s goals, their engagement in governance process, their attitudes toward the rest of the city and the relations between HOA and its surroundings. Patterns of civic engagement characteristic for HOA are far from active form of citizenship. They correspond rather with the concept of private and pasive citizenship. HOA members are focused mainly on their own, group interests. HOA gives an opportunity to engage in private governing process that is an alternative for civic engagement. That’s why it can be seen as a threat to civic engagement.