The formation of Poland’s Modern Historical Policy (2000s)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the early stage of the formation of the concept of historical politics as a special sphere of public administration in Poland (2004–2007). The prerequisites for its appearance, its background, the logic of its main ideologists are considered. The author analyzes the typology of this phenomenon presented in the Polish academic literature. It is pointed out that its main features are derived from the ideological originality and politic identity of the “Law and Justice” party. It was the notion of their political predecessors and their place in Polish history, which was strengthened in this movement, that determined the main accents of the historical policy of the Polish governments in 2005–2007. Attention in the article is also paid to the criticism of this policy by the main opponents. The Polish historical politics is also analyzed at the regional level as a natural reaction of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe both to the previous system and to the new neoliberal values coming from the West. The spread of a certain political fashion for the politics of memory is seen as part of the conservative trend in the politics of the countries within the region. At the same time, the author points out a number of specific partizan features of the historical policy of “Law and Justice”, which impede the implementation of its main goal — the consolidation of the nation — and turn it into a means of internal political struggle.