The purpose of this article is to present the specific character of Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) in Poland as one of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We refer to the issue increasingly debated in the social sciences, that is, how to translate academic models embedded in specific social contexts to other contexts, as we trace the process of adapting ideas and patterns of AFNs developed in the West to the semi-peripheral context of CEE countries. Drawing on the theory of social practices, we divide the analysis into three essential areas: The ideas of the network, its materiality, and the activities within the network. We have done secondary analysis of the research material, including seven case studies the authors worked on in the past decade. We distinguish three network models—imitated, embedded and mixed—which allow us to establish a specific post-transformational AFN growth theory. Particular attention should be paid to the type of embedded networks, as they highlight the possibility of local and original forms of AFNs. Mixed networks show that ideas imported from abroad need to be considered in juxtaposition and connection with local circumstances.

Background: Political polarization may result in increased confirmation bias, strengthening of disinformation mechanisms or policy distortion. This raises the question whether it may influence the vaccination programmes. This study investigates the relationship between the level of political polarization and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine behaviour and vaccine acceptance. Methods: In our study, we use the Partisan Polarization Index (PPI). The PPI aims to measure the gap between satisfaction with the government expressed by supporters of the ruling parties and that expressed by supporters of the opposition parties. We use the data from the latest round of the European Social Service from 23 countries. The effect of the PPI on the variability of vaccination declarations and intent across countries was verified based on a linear regression model. Results: The linear regression score for 23 countries revealed a statistically significant relationship between the vaccination variable and the level of political polarization. The model explains the variability in the vaccination levels based on the PPI in a given country at 38.6%. Conclusions: Political polarization can contribute to shaping negative attitudes towards vaccination through policy distortion, undermining the effectiveness of compliance against regulation, undermining trust in science and increasing the public's susceptibility to conspiracy theories.

This article presents the results of the qualitative research conducted on Polish users of the Sensor.Community network. Different types of motivation behind the decision to engage in the collection of air quality data are discussed. Users’ motives have been found to result predominantly from the concern for the health and safety of their loved ones, as well as the need to control air quality (and ultimately the quality of life) in their immediate environment (home and neighbourhood). Users do not display civic behaviour such as working for the local community. Three factors have been proposed to explain this status quo. First, the motives related to health and safety, as opposed to motives behind seeking a resolution to an environmental problem at the local level, may contribute to the solidification of individualistic attitudes. Second, Sensor.Community is organised in a way that does not promote a greater involvement from the network organisers in the development of the initiative and retention of users. Instead, the network focuses predominantly on the technical aspects of operation. Third, users have no sense of agency as, in our opinion, they remain largely unaware of the value of the data they collect.

Self-tracking odnosi się do wszelkich sposobów monitorowania i analizowania stanu własnego organizmu za pomocą urządzeń mobilnych (telefonów, opasek, przypinek, obręczy itp.) i powiązanych z nimi aplikacji. Dzięki nim użytkownicy technologicznych gadżetów mogą sprawdzać na bieżąco swoje tętno, mierzyć przebyty w ciągu dnia dystans czy monitorować fazy snu. Ogólnie rzecz ujmując, self-tracking jest nowym wcieleniem ideologii zdrowia, o której pisał Robert Crawford. W artykule poddano analizie to zjawisko, umieszczając je w dwóch kontekstach: ideologii neoliberalnej i kapitalizmu kognitywnego. Używanie gadżetów do self-trackingu pozwala na wytwarzanie określonego rodzaju podmiotowości: skupionej na sobie, samodyscyplinującej się, przedsiębiorczej, dążącej do maksymalizacji kontroli w codziennym, naznaczonym niepewnością życiu. Jednocześnie praktyki monitorowania siebie doskonale wpisują się w nowe reżimy produkcji, oparte na pomysłowości, kreatywności i koncentracji.