9 Beyond the occupation mentality
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Jarosław Kuisz
Abstract
This chapter examines Poland’s relationship with the Catholic Church. The Church has a huge influence on Polish society, and its support for Law and Justice on various issues – notably the banning of abortion – is crucial to the government’s ability to maintain power. This influence is rooted in Poland’s long history of domination by foreign powers, during which the Church came to play the role of a “backup state.” Even under communism, it was able to retain a remarkable degree of institutional independence. The chapter recounts the history of Catholicism in Poland before turning to the situation today. It offers a comparison with Ireland, a country with a strong Catholic tradition which has nonetheless undergone a rapid process of secularisation in recent years. There are reasons to think this may happen in Poland as well, but the future remains uncertain, and for many the Catholic Church continues to represent a stronger guarantee of continuity than the state.
Abstract
This chapter examines Poland’s relationship with the Catholic Church. The Church has a huge influence on Polish society, and its support for Law and Justice on various issues – notably the banning of abortion – is crucial to the government’s ability to maintain power. This influence is rooted in Poland’s long history of domination by foreign powers, during which the Church came to play the role of a “backup state.” Even under communism, it was able to retain a remarkable degree of institutional independence. The chapter recounts the history of Catholicism in Poland before turning to the situation today. It offers a comparison with Ireland, a country with a strong Catholic tradition which has nonetheless undergone a rapid process of secularisation in recent years. There are reasons to think this may happen in Poland as well, but the future remains uncertain, and for many the Catholic Church continues to represent a stronger guarantee of continuity than the state.
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
