Civic and Uncivic Values in Poland

Value Transformation, Education, and Culture

Sabrina P. Ramet, Kristen Ringdal, Katarzyna Dośpiał-Borysiak, Sabrina P. Ramet, Kristen Ringdal, Katarzyna Dośpiał-Borysiak

• Publisher: Central European University Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9789633862209
• eBook ISBN:
  9789633862216
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European Politics
• Index: History

Poland, like many societies across the world, is becoming more polarized in diverse areas of life, as contending forces seek to advance incompatible agendas. The polarization over values in Polish politics was evident already before communism collapsed but became more obvious in the following years and reached a crescendo after the October 2015 parliamentary elections, which brought a right-wing party into power.This volume focuses on the years since 1989, looking at the clash between civic values (the rule of law, individual rights, tolerance, respect for the harm principle, equality, and neutrality of the state in matters of religion) and uncivic values (the rule of a dictator or dictatorial party, contempt for individual rights, bigotry, disrespect for the harm principle, unequal treatment of people whether through discrimination or through exploitation, and state favoritism of one religion over others). The authors address voting behavior, political parties, anti-Semitism, homophobia, the role of the Catholic Church, and reflections in history textbooks, fi lm, and even rock music. This volume makes clear that for the foreseeable future the conflict in Poland between traditional, conservative values and liberal, civic values is likely to continue, provoking tensions and protests.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Table of Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Preface
• 1. Civic and Uncivic Values: An Introduction
• PART ONE – THE SYSTEM
• 2. Polish Politics, April 1989–October 2015
• 3. Party System and Voting Behavior in Poland
• 4. European Values in Poland: The Special Case of Ethnic and NationalMinorities
• PART TWO – VALUES IN POLAND
• 5. Polish Civic Values in a European Context
• 6. Religion in Public Life
• 7. Religiosity, Tolerance of Homosexuality, and Support for Gay and Lesbian Rights in Poland: The Present and Likely Future(s)
• 8. National Catholic Impact on Anti-Semitism in Poland: Report of the Significant Results of Empirical Research
• PART THREE – VEHICLES OF SOCIALIZATION
• 9. Civic Education: Controversies Surrounding Socialization Factors and Mechanisms
• 10. History Textbooks in Poland since 1989: A Dialogue between the Past and the Present
• 11. Rock music and politics in Poland: Lyrics of Protest and Resistance
• 12. Film and Values: Polish Cinema of National Remembrance
• 13. Poland’s Media: Learning from the Past and Fitting a New Mold
• CONCLUSION
• About the Editors and Contributors
• Index
• Back cover