7 The never- ending de-communisation debate
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Jarosław Kuisz
Abstract
This chapter looks at the “never-ending” debate on de-communisation in Poland. The Law and Justice government has announced its intention to eliminate all remnants of communism in Poland. This is despite the fact that there are no active communist politicians in the country, and communism is not a significant political force. To understand the meaning behind this announcement requires a deeper understanding of Polish history. From the end of Second World War until 1989, Poland existed as a satellite state of the USSR. Russia imposed profound political, economic and social changes. When the Third Republic of Poland came into existence, a narrative tug-of-war began over the country’s communist period. But, ultimately, successive governments were reluctant to force a reckoning with the past. When Law and Justice came to power they turned de-communisation into a political tool, using it to justify the weakening of the judiciary while simultaneously promoting former communists sympathetic to their agenda.
Abstract
This chapter looks at the “never-ending” debate on de-communisation in Poland. The Law and Justice government has announced its intention to eliminate all remnants of communism in Poland. This is despite the fact that there are no active communist politicians in the country, and communism is not a significant political force. To understand the meaning behind this announcement requires a deeper understanding of Polish history. From the end of Second World War until 1989, Poland existed as a satellite state of the USSR. Russia imposed profound political, economic and social changes. When the Third Republic of Poland came into existence, a narrative tug-of-war began over the country’s communist period. But, ultimately, successive governments were reluctant to force a reckoning with the past. When Law and Justice came to power they turned de-communisation into a political tool, using it to justify the weakening of the judiciary while simultaneously promoting former communists sympathetic to their agenda.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
- Epigraph to Part I 20
- 1 Breakthrough? The 2015 elections 21
- 2 The tsunami of populism 46
- 3 True leaders of the nation 77
- 4 Toothless liberals? The current state of democratic opposition 99
- Introduction to Part II 126
- 5 The Polish–Jewish relationship debate 131
- 6 The economic transformation debate 146
- 7 The never- ending de-communisation debate 161
- Introduction to Part III 180
- 8 Sources of post- traumatic sovereignty 187
- 9 Beyond the occupation mentality 206
- 10 Post-traumatic sovereignty strikes back 231
- 11 A kidnapped West in the European Union 243
- Conclusion 261
- Notes 270
- Acknowledgements 346
- Index 349
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
- Epigraph to Part I 20
- 1 Breakthrough? The 2015 elections 21
- 2 The tsunami of populism 46
- 3 True leaders of the nation 77
- 4 Toothless liberals? The current state of democratic opposition 99
- Introduction to Part II 126
- 5 The Polish–Jewish relationship debate 131
- 6 The economic transformation debate 146
- 7 The never- ending de-communisation debate 161
- Introduction to Part III 180
- 8 Sources of post- traumatic sovereignty 187
- 9 Beyond the occupation mentality 206
- 10 Post-traumatic sovereignty strikes back 231
- 11 A kidnapped West in the European Union 243
- Conclusion 261
- Notes 270
- Acknowledgements 346
- Index 349
