Abstract
This article uses a critical discourse analysis approach to observe themes and patterns in eight non-fiction books about Polish patriotism for children. The books are commercially available in mainstream bookshops, and may be used in a range of home or educational settings. In a social and political context where the concept of patriotism has a long history of use by various powerful elites to legitimize their positions and political actions, and where approaches to teaching patriotism in schools have been widely discussed, the article compares themes emerging from the books with patterns in wider social and political discourse, as well as considering what messages and assumptions are revealed in the texts themselves. The analysis finds that, while most of the authors try to associate themselves with a modern and inclusive type of patriotism, they also tend to reproduce certain assumptions that favour exclusionary or hierarchical understandings as to who has the right to be recognized as a member of the national community.
Highlights
References to patriotism, national identity and the expectation that we should feel a sense of attachment to a political or geographical concept of ‘nation’ are common in political and social discourse all over the world
The meanings attached to patriotism and national identity can vary greatly in different contexts, and over time, as political, cultural and social structures change, so new research into how ideas about identity
References to Poland’s diverse past are minimal, and events and issues both in the present and from history are generally considered from ethnically Polish perspectives
Summary
References to patriotism, national identity and the expectation that we should feel a sense of attachment to a political or geographical concept of ‘nation’ are common in political and social discourse all over the world. There do not seem to be any recent studies looking at the significant number of non-fiction books for children currently available in Poland that are presented as resources for teaching what it means to be a Polish patriot. Such books are interesting in that they are a type of educational resource that is not limited by national school curricula and may be used in a range of family and educational settings. This article uses critical discourse analysis methods to examine eight such books, and discusses themes that emerge in the context of wider debates about patriotism in Polish society
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