Kolonialne i postkolonialne aspekty polskiego dyskursu kresoznawczego (zarys problematyki)
Colonial and postcolonial aspects of the Polish borderland-science discourse: an outline

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses colonial and postcolonial aspects of so-callde Polish borderland discourse as comprised in a series of literary-scientific and culturological papers as well as memoirs published after 1989. The Author argues that the language of several such Polish papers contains unconscious linguistic constructs, image clichés superimposing their image of the world and determining the inclination to have (the) Others precluded, although much is said on dialogue, multiculturality and understanding in terms of scientific and/or ideological or similar intents. This testifies to an extremely strong prevalence of colonialist forms of memory whereas the subject of colonising (i.e. Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Lithuanian lands and cultures) is unattainable in realistic terms, if not intentionally undesirable. The article also discusses the Ukrainian forms of rendering Poles precluded from the territory and culture of the Ukraine, with a memory of former colonisation as their basis, along with the presently strong postcolonial response being associated with the national revival. The Author proposes an ‘integral comparative studies’ project as coupled with a postcolonial theory as the starting point for interdisciplinary studies on the so-called ‘borderland’ [Polish, kresy] transgressing the invisible and visible borders of scientific awareness connected with the colonial discourse.

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