Legitymizacyjne wykorzystanie wybranych rocznic historycznych w prasie partyjnej w PRL w latach 1980–1989
Legitimizing Use of Selected Historical Anniversaries in Party Press in the Polish People’s Republic, 1980–1989

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the legitimizing function of historical anniversary celebrations in the 1980s in the Polish People’s Republic. The research material used consists of publications from three daily newspapers: Trybuna Ludu, Życie Warszawy, and Żołnierz Wolności, including speeches by politicians, editorial articles, and commentaries. Theoretical findings on the phenomenon of legitimization and the role of historical anniversary celebrations were used to explore the topic. The analysis of legitimizing content was carried out on the example of the celebrations of five historical anniversaries: the October Revolution, the capitulation of the Third Reich, the proclamation of the PKWN Manifesto, the German invasion of Poland, and the regaining of independence in 1918. The analysis of the problem leads to the conclusion that the ruling party’s goal was to legitimize Soviet domination and the state as the implementer of universally recognized values, such as independence. The legitimizing content was constructed by drawing on both national and independence traditions as well as revolutionary and socialist traditions.

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