On the Relevance of the Polish and East European Experiences in the Study of Global “Race” Regimes

Abstract

This essay responds to József Böröcz's “‘Eurowhite’ Conceit, ‘Dirty White’ Ressentment: ‘Race’ in Europe” published in “Forum.” I use Böröcz's framework to point to the potential wider relevance of studies on race‐related hierarchies from Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. They also include works on Poles migrating to Western Europe and America, which, as I am arguing, may give unique insights into the workings of the global system of race regimes. I also argue about the broader relevance of new works on 19th‐century German approaches to Poland and Poles as colonial subjects, as well as of the recent studies on modes of Orientalization. Both those used in Poland by Poles and those used in the countries of the Western core toward Poles and other East Europeans on both working‐class and elite levels.