Rola lidera społecznego w tworzeniu lepszej jakości życia
The role of social leader in creating better life conditions

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents the role of co-operative leaders in creating a better life in the communalscope. Pioneers and activists from succeeding generations established many forms of common cooperative activities in the 19th and 20th centuries in different areas of the Polish lands. The maingoals were to consider the groups of people living in poverty among the peasants, craftsmen andmerchants, and to combine them in common economic activities, including social and cultural worktoward national spirit. There were still co-operative leaders operating during the inter-war period,during the Nazi occupation, after the Second World War and the times of transition after 1989/1990.Their activities are shown in the historical perspective, against social and local backgrounds, the methods of the co-operative movement, careers, personal attributes and achievements. Thecharacteristics of these co-operative leaders from past and contemporary times can be useful inunderstanding actual challenges for co-operative leaders in a local scope. The paper is based onhistorical analysis of biographical and historical literature, scientific workshops and contemporaryco-operative journalism.The system of co-operative education in towns and the countryside were destroyed during thetransition period. The many occasional courses and training sessions, organized by co-operativeauditory unions for their employees, cannot excise this gap. The education of contemporary managersis oriented toward free market rivalry, corporations and the race for enlarging surpluses, eliminatingsocial responsibility for business organization and collaboration in the needs of local societies.Examples of co-operative leaders can be useful in the creation of activists for the social economy.Modern co-operative leaders should combine a charismatic personality with extensive knowledge and an annalistic mind. They are the hope for the revitalization of the co-operative movement.

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