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Kultura historyczna w procesie transformacji

Abstract

Memory Liberated, Memory Enslaved. Historical Culture in the Process of Transformation

The democratic breakthrough in Poland and in other Central‑European countries led to a process of liberation and transformation of public memory. Societies, whose memory had been ‘occupied’ for decades, focused on debating the problem of identity with the fervour of neophytes. They discussed their origins and their destiny. Poland, a country that survived two occupations at the same time, is settling with the past, which has far reaching consequences both for its own self‑awareness and for its attitude towards the neighbours. However, memory freed of censorship and pressure of a single ideology becomes easily enslaved in the face of another ideology. Thus, the historical culture of Poland that is developing in the age of globalisation and numerous international challenges, is full of contradictions and questions that cannot be easily answered.