The evolution of the positions on social issues of major political parties in Poland. Comparative analysis of the election programs of Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform) and Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Law and Justice) from 2007, 2011 and 2015

Abstract

For many years after 1989, in the Polish socio-political discourse, the issues related to social policy were subordinated to economic matters, in accordance with the assumption that the construction of a stable market system is a priority for Polish transformations. High unemployment rate, growing poverty of Polish families, demographic collapse, and finally the global economic crisis of 2008, prompted the most important actors of political life to pay attention to social policy and to include discussions about its desired shape to the electoral agenda. The aim of the article is to characterize and analyze the evolution of positions on social issues of the largest political parties, i.e. Prawo i Sprawiedliwość and Platforma Obywatelska based on their electoral programs in 2007, 2011 and 2015.