The Parties of the Polish People’s Movement in Exile Concerning the So-called Continuity of Polish Statehood in Exile

Abstract

This study is of paramount importance as it delves into the attitudes of three Polish People’s Parties active in exile between 1945 and 1990 (Stronnictwo Ludowe “Wolność” (SLW), Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (PSL), Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe – Odłam Jedności Narodowej (PSL-OJN)) towards the recognition of the Polish Constitution of April 1935 and the permanence of the Polish authorities in exile – the so-called legalism. The study primarily used content analysis as the primary research method to analyze the content of the provenance materials of the studied parties, such as political programs, minutes of meetings, articles in the party press, and correspondence. Scientific literature was also used. The research concludes that each of the three researched parties presented different views on the issues indicated above, although the opinions of the SLW and PSL-OJN were quite similar. These parties were in favor of recognizing the Constitution of the Republic of Poland of April 1935 as binding and the construction of the authorities of the Republic of Poland in exile on the basis of the provisions of that Constitution. A different position was presented by the PSL, which rejected the Polish Constitution of 1935 in its entirety.