Lithuania and Poland have been connected through the centuries not only by their geography but also their history and culture; their mutual relations have been closer than their connections with other neighbours. This essay attempts to discuss in general terms what has joined these two states and societies together, and what separated them and for what reasons between the thirteenth and twenty-first centuries. First of all attention is focussed on historical facts which led to the development of mutual trust between the two societies, on how tolerance and mutual respect grew with regard to their national identity and historical memory and what opportunities were gained for protecting national minorities. We also note and explain episodes in the development of relations between the two countries which have had, and continue to have a certain negative significance.
More...Keywords: Porębski; Polska; Poland; naród; nation
More...Keywords: zapożyczenia; język niemiecki; architektura; budownictwo; terminologia; Polish specialist language; architecture; specialist language
More...Keywords: manipulation techniques; relations “author-narrator”
On the basis of the excerpts from Władysław Witwicki’s letters and commentaries on Plato’s dialogues, the manipulation techniques which he had employed are described. Simultaneously, this paper suggests that Andrzej Nowicki, who treated his teacher Witwicki as someone who made a great impact on his personality, adopted and used these techniques in his book Twardowski’s Pupil.
More...Keywords: Stanisław Wyspiański; home libraries in XIX Poland
The home library is understood as an organized collection of documents, mainly books, newspapers and magazines within the building which is the place of residence. It is referred to only when it develops to such an extent that it is able to systematically fulfil specific purposes that its owner has in mind. And most of all that it involves certain financial resources to multiply it and is regarded as a specific form of passion and sometimes profession (when a fund is created to develop it, as happened in the case of the collections of Józef Maksymilian Ossoliński). However, it differs from book collections in libraries as institutions because usually it is not built and made available outside the family. Collecting of home book libraries became a mass activity in Poland in the 19th century. Mainly intellectuals and noblemen collected them. An equally valuable collection was owned by Stanisław Wyspiański. We can see it on the basis of the study by A. Grucy “Księgozbiór Stanisława Wyspiańskiego” (The library of Stanisław Wyspianski). The precious acquisitions in this collection were scientific yearbooks and magazines (in French and German) devoted mainly to art and literature. The collected magazines equally with books constituted not only a symbol of social status but also a tool for performing the writer’s mission. They were becoming an integrating factor regardless of the dividing borders of the Polish partition. Now the home library of the writer located in the National Museum in Cracow is an invaluable part of the national culture
More...Keywords: polish language; world wide
The Polish language is present in two basic communication communities: the dense community in Poland and the diasporic community abroad. The present situation of the Polish language in the world depends directly on the transformations which occurred in its contemporary history, that is the period 1939-1945-1990-2000. In comparison to global languages, the mobility of Polish is limited. Yet it can be hoped that the Polish language will properly fi t into the civilisation situation in the integrated world and it can be assumed that the development of Polish will be progressive. The current situation of Polish abroad, which signifi cantly differs from the one described ten-odd years ago, justifi es the postulate of a new study, which would include demographic, geographic, linguistic, cultural and economic determinants.
More...Keywords: obituary; in memoriam; Jan Kolasa
In memoriam of Professor Jan Kolasa (1926-2016).
More...Keywords: writing; Polish features; Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn; The Gulag Archipelago; Jerzy Wegierski
Poland and Polish people are shown in the Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s writing in the context of complicated Polish-Russian relations. In Repentance and Self-limitation the author criticises Polish nation for being unable to repent and admit making mistakes in the past in a historical context. At the same time he claims that Russians have a natural ability to repentance, that is a condition of a moral renewal of a nation. Nevertheless, the overall picture of the Polish nation in Solzhenitsyn’s writing is positive. This Russian Nobel prize winner highlights Polish courage, pride and their undeterred struggle for freedom. In The Gulag Archipelago the author eternalises a Polish scientist named Jerzy Wegierski, a prisoner of a forced labour camp, who had been Solzhenitsyn’s friend till his death.It is also very important to highlight Solzhenitsyn’s respect and attitude toward the Pope John Paul II.The article is an attempt to recall and analyse Polish features in the Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s writing.
More...Keywords: Philip Orlik; hetman of the Cossacks; Polish historiography
Philip Orlik, the last hetman of the Cossacks, did not arouse an interest among Polish historians as some of his predecessor, leaders of The Cossack Hetmanate. Needless to say that Cossacks – especially these represented by Orlik – did not have the strength like in the old days. Historians treated both hetman’s fate and his actions leading to regaining sovereignty of Cossack State (Hetmanate) superficially, they seen it just as a part of more complex historical process and political events. Because of that he was present in various works discussing foreign policy of Charles XII, Russia–Turkey relations or French policy leading to weaken Austria and its ally Russia. Last but not least he was seen as a stubborn politician fighting for a losing cause.
More...Keywords: public international law; soft law; binding; international; legal standards; actors; cooperation;
The aims of this contribution is to check the validity of the old theory, which goes back to Jellinek but is still dominant, which states that secession as well as the process of forming a new state, fall under the scope of a “simple fact” and thereby escape through definition to any law of way. According to this theory, secession is not a question of “Law” but a question of pure fact, failure or success: if a secessionist movement succeeds in establishing a new effectiveness, that is to say, puts in place the “Constituent elements” of a state, a new state is born. It is interesting to observe that with the phenomenon of the rise or the collapse of States, from the global perspective of international order and especially from the point of view of international law, the States concerned are, in practice, not simply left to their fate. On the contrary, the rise or the collapse of a State anywhere in the world is seen as a matter of concern for the international community, since the international system as a whole is felt to be affected. In such cases, international reactions have not been manifested primarily through the States as such, either individually or together. Basically, these reactions had to cope with the dilemma of choosing between two fundamental principles of legitimacy in international law: on the one hand, the sovereignty and equality of States and, on the other, the right of peoples to self-determination.
More...Keywords: autobiography; essay; emancipation; genology; subject; identity
The article contains the consideration devoted to Agnieszka Kłos’ output and especially her book Gry w Birkenau, published in 2015. All textes from the volume manifest their autobiografical and subversive character. The main aim o those writings is making diagnosis to present polish common life and changing rules of community life. This aim is realised by essay strategies and political engagement. In textes placed in Gry w Birkenau suggestive and expressive female subject makes still new inquiries to find the essence of herself identity.
More...Keywords: Krzysztof Koehler's “Palus sarmatica”; Jacek Kowalski’s “Sarmatism. Abolishing the Myths. An Operational Manual”; Sarmatians faith
The review discusses two books published in 2016, namely Krzysztof Koehler’s Palus sarmatica and Jacek Kowalski’s “Sarmacja. Obalanie mitów. Podręcznik bojowy” (“Sarmatism. Abolishing the Myths. An Operational Manual”). They are a demanding challenge as a subject of a review since they can or rather should be seen as “a profession of Sarmatian faith.” The books’ greatest valour is manifestation of Sarmatian culture integrity and demonstration of Sarmatian vitality even in our times.
More...Keywords: diplomacy; Polish independence; political relations
In 1918 the newly established Poland was in the state of political and military conflict with all her neighbours. Borders were not acknowledge by the victorious allies. A request for international recognition and establishing the diplomatic relations send from Warsaw in November 1919 was left unanswered. Only the cooperation of the Polish National Committee in Paris, headed by Roman Dmowski, with Poland-based political structure dominated by Józef Piłsudski brought the desired result. On January 15,1919 Polish delegation was invited to join the Paris Peace Conference. This meant the de facto recognition of Poland. The governement headed by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, and hence the Polish state, was recognised by the major Allied Powers de jure in the so-called “Little” Versailles Treaty of June 1919. Thereby the Warsaw authorities were allowed to establish diplomatic relations. Recent research of these issues does not provide full explanation of the circumstances. It is necessary to establish the actual sequence of Poland’s formal recongnition which thus provided a legal de jure basis for diplomatic relations. This article is the first attempt to systematize the issue with a novel metodological approach. Author proposes that the date of Poland’s recognition was the date when the other state’s decision was taken, and not when that decision was communicated. The establishing of diplomatic relations was a separate procedure and occured – except in the case of the Netherlands – as the result of the letters of credence being presented by an envoy, or letters of introduction by the chargé d’affaires.
More...Keywords: Marcin Świetlicki
„Albowiem trzeba się bać” – czytamy w Polsce dziesięć Marcina Świetlickiego. To lęk przed złem, cierpieniem, głupotą, przed męką prezentowania się innym (lęk jakże charakterystyczny dla ludzi nieśmiałych) czyni istnienie nieznośnym. Ale kiedyś przestaniemy się bać.
More...Keywords: Polish woman; electoral right; feminist movement; break
This article treats about way of polish woman for obtainment of electoral right. It was not so easy and with recovery by Poland of independence runaway. Women must have broken patriarchal, feudal model of interpersonal attitude relation which appointed functions of mothers and wives. Tradition talks and it talks beyond parenthesis moral norm political woman. Feminist movement traffic was born in Poland under annexation in pains near the end XIX century age. In spite of the fact that they have not got Polish feminists as English such prominence, contribution was undeniable to battle about access to spheres of public reserved lives for men only. Everything ended with giving woman full rights in Polish Republic. On the 28 of November 1918 year electoral court act for legislative Parlament decree, effective concede and passive electoral right were given to all citizens, independently of sex. For the first time in the independent Poland, on the 26 of January 1919, women could choose and be chosen.
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