Polscy uczeni wobec upaństwowienia uniwersytetów
Polish Scholars in the Face of the Nationalization of Universities

Summary/Abstract: The history of universities in Europe goes from full autonomy - independence from secular and clerical authorities to gradual taking over by the state. Initially, the universities were guilds of professors and students, whom authorities guaranteed certain privileges. Since the French Revolution, when the guild system was destroyed, state authorities are beginning to subordinate higher education institutions to themselves. This has happened all over Europe except in Great Britain. Poland is an interesting case here, because after regaining independence in 1918, its universities are undergoing the accelerated path of European universities - from the self-government to nationalization. In this case, the opinions of Polish scholars are significant, because the process took place on their eyes and they understood it perfectly. The article presents selected opinions of Polish professors from the 1930s. They argued that subordinating universities to the state is harmful to universities and the entire Polish national culture.

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