Torsello, Davide - Pappová, Melinda: Social Networks in Movement. Time, interaction and interethnic spaces in Central Eastern Europe - Nostra Tempora 8. (Somorja-Dunaszerdahely, 2003)
Time and social networks
Managing instability 73 degree of trust in institutions, counterbalanced by the tendency to privilege close circles and intimate relations (family, kin and friends) (Sztompka 1999; Misztal 2001). This is seen as a form of continuity with socialist practices that emphasized the gap between public and private spheres, reducing individual action to a kind of “performative act“ taking place at two opposing levels: the public level, characterized by often false and deceitful behaviour, and the private one, where people behaved genuinely. Because of this, expectations and obligations among family members and friends can become extremely burdensome on social actors, simply because there are no or few other ways to convey such trust elsewhere. The quantitative data above confirm the position of the family and kinship as the ultimate depository of personal trust in present times. Since the state has lost its overall encompassing role that distinguished the socialist regime, village members stress the importance of the family as the “sole source“ of help, reliability and security. However, because of the crucial social role of the family in creating and maintaining trustworthiness, being a member of a large kin group may also have its drawbacks. One informant described the role of kinship in these terms: The family is a double-edged weapon: when it’s large there are so many advantages. You can count on people when you need help and you’ll get it. They’ve got your same blood after all. But then there is so much weight in the obligations, which at times are even bigger than the advantages themselves. You are never sure of what this or that other relative may think; all you can do is guess that you acted or spoke in the most appropriate way. (Dániel, b. 1968) Dániel comes from a well-reputed village family and has one married sister living in the village and one brother in the town. His wife’s family also resides in the village. At the time of this remark, Dániel invited me for a drink with some of his male friends. We were on the second floor of the Culture House,
