Polish Contemporary History and Polish-Turkish Relations

general courses

Knowledge of social sciences and humanities and skills from lower secondary and secondary school, as well as those from 1st level studies; above-average knowledge of foreign languages will be helpful, along with familiarity with political sciences and probably general history.

Classroom

Modern history of Poland ant Turkish-Polish relations

World war 1 (1914–1918)

1920s and 1930s (1918–1939)

World war 2 (1939–1945)

Post-war period (from 1945)

Period (from 1945–1947 to 1989–1991)

Period (from 1991), independence and EU entry

The reasons for abandoning socialism. Fight for free Poland.

2004 – Poland joining the European Union.

Polish-Turkish relations, development after 1989.

1918. The conditions surrounding Poland regaining its independence. Social and political situation of Poland between the two wars.

The situation of the Polish society after world war 2, during which over 6 million of Polish citizens lost their lives. Population in 1946 – almost 24 million. 600 thousand people were war invalids. By the decision of the Big Three in Potsdam (17 July – 2 August 1945) new borders were drawn. Poland’s territory diminished to 312.6 thousand km² and almost ½ of the Polish territory was exchanged. The territorial changes, such as the loss of the Eastern Lands, while gaining the lands in the West and North – the so-called Western Lands and Northern Lands. These changes lead to the change in ethnic composition, apart from the Poles there were Belarusians (approx. 100 thousand), Ukrainians (approx. 150 thousand), Lithuanians (approx. 10 thousand) and Germans (approx. 200 thousand). However, these did not exceed 2% of the total population. The state was almost homogenous from nationality point of view. About 1.5 million of forced labourers, prisoners and prisoners of war returned to Poland from the 3rd Reich. There was also internal migration – including that from central Poland to western and Northern Lands (by the end of July 1945 – 700 thousand people). About 1.5 million Poles remained outside of the Polish territory, on the lands incorporated into the USSR and about 0.5 million of those who did not return from the Western occupation zones (Władysław Anders’s soldiers, civilian refugees from 1939, civilians evacuated from the USSR in 1942). They formed the new Polish diaspora in the West. On the other hand, half a million people were relocated from Poland to Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania, while about 2.5 million people were removed from the German territory taken over by Poland.

Due to repressions by the occupying forces the landed gentry social group was largely destroyed (expropriation, nationalisation, repressions). The disappearance of this group was hastened by the agricultural reform implemented by the PKWN. Bourgeoisie practically disappeared, the Polish intelligentsia, purposely destroyed during the war, remained weak.

The leading role of PZPR. The situation and activity of other political parties.

The social and political situation until 1989.

The reasons for abandoning socialism. Fight for free Poland.

2004 – Poland joining the European Union.

Polish-Turkish relations, development after 1989.

Student's workload:

lecture - 15 h

reading in foreign language - 60 h

preparation to the lecture - 60 h

preparation to the exam - 45 h

total - 180 h

Norman Davis, God's Playground. A History of Poland, vol. 1-2, Oxford University Press 1981,

Heart of Europe. A Short History of Poland, Oxforg University Press 1984.

Chmielowska Danuta, Polsko-tureckie stosunki dyplomatyczne w okresie międzywojennym, Warszawa 2006

A student:

Has deeper knowledge of political and civilisational conditions of social life in the Middle Eastern region.

Can analyse, identify and explain the ongoing changes in relations with the EU

Has specialised knowledge of religious and cultural conditions in the Middle Eastern region and Europe

Can independently study and explain the role of social and political structures in the modern state and world.

Can critically evaluate human activity and achievements.

Has extended skills of presenting own ideas, justifying them and confronting them with the opinions of other students, various authors in the context of varied theoretical streams.

Can analyse and evaluate independently and critically the content of media communications.

Has extended skills of preparing oral presentations in Polish on detailed subjects, using basic theoretical background and varied sources.

Can plan within a group, adopting various roles in it.

Oral examination