Polish and General Contemporary History

The course introduces students into the main events and processes of the history of Poland in a broader, international context, which includes mostly European, but in some cases also global trends and tendencies. It focuses on the 20th and early 21st century, though begins with a short presentation of earlier major developments, explaining the origins of the situation of Poland at the beginning of 20th century.

The main idea is to highlight the interconnectedness of major historical processes in Europe and beyond, to show how they affected Poland as well as how Poland participated and co-shaped them.

The course is divided into an introduction and 5 main parts:

Intro - earlier history of Poland in the European context.

1. First World War and the mid-War period (1914-1939).

2. World War II and its consequences (1939-1945).

3. Post WWII European and world order (1945-1989).

4. The collapse of the communist system and its aftermath (1989-1999/2004).

5. 21st century developments and challenges.

Topics:

1. Organization of the course. Introductory lecture on major developments and turning moments in Poland’s history before 20th century.

The year of 966 and the symbolic beginning of Christianization of Poland as a separate entity. Poland as a regional empire (united with Lithuania) under Jagiellon dynasty in 15th and 16th centuries. Culture of the noblemen. Golden age of Polish tolerance. Peculiarities of political culture in 17th and 18th century Noble Republic: elected monarchs, democracy of noblemen, the practice of liberum veto and its effects. Importance of the constitution of May 3, 1791. Developmental patterns in ancient Poland in comparison to socio-economic modernization of Western Europe. Gradual partition of the Commonwealth in late 18th, in the context of Russian, Prussian and Austrian strategies. Polish struggle for national identity and independence: the insurgent ethos, uprisings in 1794, 1830-31, 1863-64. The role of resistance in Polish national consciousness.

2. Poland and the world before and during WWI 1914-1918.

Reasons behind the outbreak of WWI, main political and military developments. “Polish card” in the policies of Russia, Germany and Austro-Hungary. Diplomatic efforts of R. Dmowski and I. Paderewski, military actions of J. Piłsudski – the role of his Legions.

3. Mid-war period (1918-1939).

Regaining of independence in 1918, The Treaty of Versailles 1919 and its aftermath. Poland’s border wars and uprisings 1918-1923. The significance of the Polish-Soviet war 1919-1921. Ethnic relations and tensions in multicultural Poland. J. Piłsudski and R. Dmowski – their visions of Poland and political impact. May 1926 coup d'état. Crisis of democracy in Europe: Italian fascism, German national socialism. Authoritarian tendencies in Poland, Spain, Portugal and other countries – comparison. International situation of Poland before the Second World War. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 1939.

4. World War II and its consequences (1939-1945).

Outline of the main developments during WWII. September’39 campaign and the fourth partitioning of Poland. Polish underground state structures – the role of AK (Home Army). Warsaw Ghetto uprising (1943) and Warsaw uprising (1944). Poland and the problem of Holocaust. The case of Jedwabne. Consequences of the Tehran (1943), Yalta and Potsdam (1945) conferences for Europe and Poland.

5. Post WWII European and world order (1945-1989).

The origins and forms of the communist system - takeover of Central-Eastern Europe 1944-1949 and its further evolution. Outline of the history of Cold War. Characteristics of Polish Peoples’ Republic (PRL) and peculiarities of the Polish variant of communism. Different “stages of socialism”: Stalinist era, Gomulka’s rule, the decade of Gierek. The role of the Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR) in the political system and social life. Everyday life in Poland under communist regime. Political crises: 1956, 1968, 1970, 1976 (in Poland), 1956 (Hungary) and 1968 (Czechoslovakia) - their origins, consequences and significance. Outline of the history of anti-Communist opposition before 1980: KOR (Committee for Defending of Workers) and KPN (Confederation for Independent Poland). John Paul II visit in 1979 and strikes in 1980. Solidarity as a trade union and social movement. Profile of its leader Lech Walesa. Characteristic features of the “self-limiting revolution” 1980-1981 in a broader geopolitical context. Communist counter-strike: martial law of December 13, 1981. Insurgent ethos revisited: growth of underground culture. Profile of general Wojciech Jaruzelski.

6. The collapse of the communist system and its aftermath (1989-1999/2004). Transition and transformation in Cetral Eastern Europe – towards parliamentary democracy and free market economy. The origins and the content of the Round Table talks between communist government and Solidarity-led opposition in 1989. The impact of the situation in the USSR (Gorbatchev’s plan of perestroika and glasnost). Partially free elections in June 1989. “Contract Parliament”. Balcerowicz’s plan of “the shock treatment” - political and social dimension of economic reforms. Outline of developments on the Polish political scene between 1989 and 2004. Presidencies of W. Jaruzelski, L. Wałęsa, A. Kwaśniewski. Entering NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004. Power shifts and new lines of conflict on the Polish political scene.

7. 21st century developments and challenges.

International situation after 9/11, the war on terror. Impact of the global financial crisis 2007-2009. Smoleńsk tragedy (April 10, 2010) and its consequences for Polish politics. European migration and refugee crisis in 2015 – conflicting approaches. Civic Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS) as the main political parties in contemporary Poland.

Main reading – books:

1. N. Davies, „HEART OF EUROPE. The Past in Poland’s Present” (selected chapters).

2. David S. Mason, „A Concise History of Modern Europe. Liberty, Equality, Solidarity” (selected chapters).

3. Piotr S. Wandycz, „The Price of Freedom: A History of East Central Europe” (selected chapters).

Additional reading – articles:

1. „JEWISH-POLISH RELATIONS: AN HISTORICAL SURVEY” by Wladyslaw T. Bartoszewski

http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/site/pp.asp?c=ivKVLcMVIsG&b=476133

2. „A small miracle in the tortured history of Polish-Jewish relations” by Timothy Garton Ash

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/01/polish-jewish-relations-warsaw-museum-history-polish-jew

3. MARKUS MECKL, „The Memory of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising” at: The European Legacy, Vol. 13, No. 7, pp. 815–824, 2008.

Supplementary reading:

Timothy Snyder: „BLOODLANDS. Europe Between Hitler and Stalin”.

Eric Hobsbawm, „Age of Extremes. The Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991”.

Timothy Garton Ash, „The Magic Lantern. The Revolution of '89 Witnessed in Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin and Prague”.

All reading materials will be e-mailed to students via USOSmail.

After completing this course students should:

- know different determinants of the crucial political events in the 20th century: wars, uprisings, international order establishments with special emphasis on Poland (W04).

- know the reasons of raise and fall of democratic order in European countries during the 20th century (W07).

- know how political actions as well as governing decision can lead to social and political stability or instability (W11).

- be able to interpret of the interconnections among main political events and processes in the 20th century, especially being able to use historical maps (U01).

- improve foreign language skills in political science according to requirements for B2+ level of the European Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (U13).

- be able to develop knowledge of political systems and foreign policy of the European states, basing on the historical background (K07).

- Regular attendance - required. Two absences are allowed without consequences. In case of greater number of absences, some additional reading or an extra assignment paper may be required.

- Active participation in class discussions, based first of all on assigned reading - recommended.

- Mid-term test (in-class) required.

- Final test (in-class) - required.

Important: in order to complete the course, student needs to meet formal criteria (attendance) and receive at least a passing grade (“3”) from the final test.

Grade distribution (approximately):

Attendance, participation in class discussions: 25%

Mid-term test 25%

Final examination (test): 50%