Family Studies and Politics:: The Case of Polish Sociology

This paper focuses on the connections between the evolution of the socio-political system and changes in the theory and substance of Polish research about families. Prior to the political transition of 1989, the methods and substance of Polish research in the field of sociology of the family were shaped by state politics. Evidence is presented that the political transformation in 1989 enlarged the field of subjects for study, while simultaneously narrowing the scope and range of research due to the reduction, or in some cases elimination, of research funds.