Zum Wechselspiel von verpasster Konsolidierung, Demokratiekritik und Diskursen der Versicherheitlichung in der Zweiten Republik Polens (1918 bis 1926)

Abstract

The paper discusses the interplay of the failed consolidation of the Second Polish Republic, growing democracy criticism, and securitization discourses. This interplay resulted in dwindling support for parliamentary democracy. The failed consolidation was facilitated by scenarios of external threat. Furthermore, it can be attributed to the Polish partitions, which caused asymmetrically developed political, economic, social, and cultural predispositions; to the outcomes of World War I and the frontier wars in the East; and to the weak parliamentary system characterized by corruption. The politicians failed to integrate the previously separated parts of Poland and especially the national minorities, which constituted about 30 percent of the population. An atmosphere of threat to the state permeated the public and was further facilitated by securitization discourses of both the right and left. More and more the democratic regime itself was questioned and upheaval sentiments under the slogan of “moral healing” of political life became palpable. All this set the scene for Piłsudski’s coup in May 1926, which resulted in the transition of the parlamentary democracy into an authoritarian regime.