Some Comments on Historical Policy in Poland

Abstract

Quite a lot has already been written about the historical policy of the Law and Justice Party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) and the United Right Camp (Obóz Zjednoczonej Prawicy). Some predict its bankruptcy and discredit, others fear the far-reaching consequences of its implementation both for younger generations of Poles and the international standing of the Polish humanities and social sciences. There are voices of support from some historians and political scientists, politicians and the media perceived as sympathetic to the ruling camp and the right-wing. The former calls for full independence and treatment of science as a sphere free of political pressure and influence, while the latter sees historical policy as one of many policies pursued by the state, likening it to economic, social or foreign policy. Regardless of the assessments, the Law and Justice Party in power between 2005 and 2007 gave reality to the concept of 'historical policy' understood as public action in line with specific objectives and instruments. As of 2015, the links between politics and history are very clear, with politicians increasingly effective in imposing the tone of the narrative and pointing the direction of research. This article is an attempt to comment on the historical policy/memory policy after 2015, analyses press statements and comments appearing on Internet and signals the most important areas of disagreement in this matter, also pointing out the risks that, in the author's opinion, state policy in this area entails.