THE IMPACTS OF MILITARY BASE CLOSURES AND REALIGNMENTS WITH SOME EXAMPLES BASED ON LOCAL REVITALIZATION PROGRAMS IN POLAND

Abstract

  The literature in the field of economic sciences analyzes the role of military base (unit) on socio-economic develop- ment in many perspectives and scales but the local perspec- tive is especially important as the location of military units has significant social, economic and spatial impacts and favors establishing relations between army and local entities, in par- ticular self-government authorities, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and residents. That is why also military base closures and realignments have prompted some of the most vocal public concerns in surrounding com- munities. The actual magnitude of local effects connected with closures is usually difficult to estimate, and is based pri- marily on case studies with some attempts to use statistical analysis in limited range (like employment).
  The other issue described in the literature is connect- ed with the process of revitalization (recovery) of local com- munes. One of the instruments of programming the process of so-called mitigation of crisis in the degraded areas has been the local revitalization programs in Poland in recent years. Lit- erature and empirical evidence proves that the closure and alignment of a military unit results in some socioeconomic distress for community and it may be a decisive factor for the emergence of situations in certain areas characterized by the concentration of negative social problems and the occurrence of other negative phenomena (in the economic, environmental, spatio-functional or technical sphere) what is a prerequisite for marking the revitalization area according to Polish law. The EU-financed projects designed in the pro- gram should provide an assist to aid community revitalization efforts.
  This article analyzes examples of local revitalization pro- grams in communities where the military unit was closed. The aim of the case studies will be not only to learn about the actual impacts in the community and the proposals for minimizing those impacts, but also the assessment of the usefulness of the analysis of these planning documents to determine the socio-economic and spatial impacts of military dislocation on the local scale.