REGIONAL IDENTITY OF THE INHABITANTS OF SMALL TOWNS IN LOWER SILESIA

Purpose: The aim of the article is to identify and assess the regional identity of the inhabitants of small towns in Lower Silesia in the context of different types of territorial identity. Design/methodology/approach: The research design employed qualitative and quantitative approaches. The desk research determined the state of research on the regional identity of the inhabitants of Lower Silesia. The quantitative research employed an online survey, carried out on a sample of 579 residents of small towns in the region. Data analysis was performed in the Statistica program. Findings: The survey of the inhabitants of small towns in the Lower Silesian region has made it possible to assess the regional identity of the residents and relate it to other types of territorial identity. Based on the study, the sense of regional identity among the surveyed residents is quite strong. The respondents identify themselves as members of the Lower Silesian community more strongly than members of the local and European communities. However, national (Polish) identity is still stronger than regional identity among the inhabitants of small Lower Silesian Research limitations/implications: The research is limited to determining the regional identity of the region's inhabitants based on the self-identification related to the sense of territorial belonging. Identification of territorial identity is related to selected variables: demographic characteristics, the degree of participation in the life of the local community and interest in the region's history. The research has a diagnostic character, so future studies could indicate changes in the regional identity of the inhabitants. Originality/value: The research determined the regional identity of Lower Silesia inhabitants related to identifying the sense of territorial belonging. The analysis of the research results made it possible to assess the regional identity of the inhabitants of small towns in relation to other types of territorial identity