The Role of Anniversary of The Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland in the Polish Policy of Remembrance after 1989: Research Findings
The Role of Anniversary of The Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland in the Polish Policy of Remembrance after 1989: Research Findings

Summary/Abstract: Commemoration of historical events and figures has played an important role in shaping both national and political identities in Poland after 1989. The celebration of anniversaries related to significant people and events has become a central mechanism of the politics of remembrance, with the potential to influence collective memory. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of anniversary resolutions adopted by the Sejm and the Senate of the Republic of Poland as instruments of memory policy. The research was based on the analysis of 774 anniversary resolutions adopted between 1989 and 2023, which were treated as expressions of the collective will of both parliamentary chambers to commemorate events and individuals considered important for the nation’s history. The findings show that anniversary resolutions perform several key functions, including legitimizing selected historical narratives, reinforcing the symbolic capital of state institutions, and linking political power with cultural memory. They also demonstrate the evolution of commemorative practices in line with changes in the political system and public discourse. The study concludes that anniversary resolutions constitute a distinctive tool of memory politics that both reflect and shape the national community’s historical imagination. At the same time, the analysis highlights the limitations of this instrument, as its impact depends on broader political contexts and social reception. These findings have implications for understanding the interplay between state authority, collective identity, and historical commemoration.

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