Igranie z historią w III RP. Dekonstrukcja w polityce historycznej i edukacji
Playing with History in the Third Republic. Deconstruction in Historical Politics and Education

Summary/Abstract: In Poland after 1945, historical memory has been and still is a political matter. It was first appropriated by the communists, who decided which topics should be kept silent. After the 1989 breakthrough, acquiescence to the “multiplicity” of historical narratives unleashed discussions about Polish history, including the status of perpetrator and victim during World War II, responsibility for past crimes, and the right of other nations to be present in Polish history. The article aims to show selected topics from Polish history that – after 1989 – triggered discussions about Polish history and historical memory, as well as culture and national identity between supporters of the “pedagogy of shame” and “historical amnesia”, and the promoters of patriotic pedagogy. The author will recall, among other things: the dispute over Jedwabne, the fight over the Polish Cursed Soldiers, discussions about the genocide of Poles in Volhynia, and narratives about the Museum of World War II. The author will direct his reflections towards restoring Polish culture and history in Polish schools, teaching patriotism and love for the homeland without exposing oneself to derision or aggression from opponents and hostility from neighbours.

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