Poland and the Modern World. Review Forum

Abstract

The new Theoretical Practice review forum deals with the synthesis of the recent history of Poland by the American historian Brian Porter-Szűcs. The work, conceived as a counterbalance to the martyrological and self-centered narrative about Poland and Poles in recent decades, has provoked lively reactions. We invited to debate historians of various generations and academic circles, working in Poland and in the English-speaking world. They take up key issues for historical writing and the key concepts of Polish history. These are, among others, the challenges of synthesis, the limits of comparison and the scaling of the point of view and the position from which a historian, immersed in his own linguistic community or national culture, speaks. The work in question brings into view perks and perils of various positions of the writer towards the community of recipients. The forum participants point out the risks of using one’s own experiences and memories as a signpost in assessing historical events and the problem of writing history of ordinary people, often despite the author’s will, remaining a nameless mass. This forum is a great starting point for a discussion on these key issues of historical writing.