Politics of Memory in Poland from 1795 to 1939: Was It Soft Power?

Abstract

The article analyzes the Polish elites’ politics of memory in the “long” nineteenth century and during the interwar period. The creation and implementation of methods to promote appropriate interpretations of the Polish past for geopolitical gains are discussed against the background of broader processes, including the fall of empires in Central and Eastern Europe and the coming of World War II. Using the traditional historical method and theoretical literature, the author frames Poland’s politics of memory as a historic form of soft power. The article is an introduction to the topic, pointing to potential directions for future research.