| Abstrakt: |
Summary: Societies across the world are becoming more polarized, as contending forces seek to advance incompatible agendas, with conflict being reflected in diverse areas of life. This is as true of Poland as it is of many other societies. The polarization over values in Polish politics was clear already before communism collapsed but became more obvious in the following years, reaching a crescendo after the October 2015 elections which brought a rightwing party into power in the parliament. This volume focuses on the years since 1989, looking at the clash between civic and uncivic values, with particular attention to voting behavior, political parties, antiSemitism, homophobia, the role of the Catholic Church, and reflections in history textbooks, film, and even Polish rock music. The rightwing regime's efforts to undermine the independence of the media and the independence of the judiciary figure as parts of this struggle over values. What this volume makes clear is that, for the foreseeable future, the conflict between traditional/conservative values and liberal/civic values is likely to continue, provoking tensions and protests. |
