Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki in the European Parliament

Politics of Confusion – The sixth fragment: Apathy

Opinion By Zuzanna Zajac on December 6, 2021 | Reading time 5 min

On November 23, 2021, the European Parliament denied Mateusz Morawiecki the opportunity to speak during a debate regarding the current situation on the Belarusian border. Even though for an average polish citizen it is disheartening to see that Poland is no longer considered a reliable and significant debating partner, it is an understandable decision, which can be justified by tracing the chronology of events from this year that have contributed to the deteriorating relations with Belarus and the EU and which Poland could have, on multiple occasions, taken control of.

Demonstration in front of the ruling party "Law and Justice" (PiS) Headquarter

The politics of confusion – The fifth fragment: Where does it leave the citizens?

Brief Analysis By Zuzanna Zajac on November 8, 2021 | Reading time 6 min

The contemporary political narrative is loud, filled with politicians fighting over wealth and power. This leaves little space for issues that are relevant to Polish citizens, such as economic security, freedom of speech and social stability. So what is really going on in Poland, an entity defined not by a group of megalomaniac politicians, but by the inhabitants, which make it all work?

Jarosław Kaczyński

Politics of Confusion – The fourth fragment: Confusion

Opinion By Zuzanna Zajac on October 16, 2021 | Reading time 3 min

On Saturday, October 9, the right-wing ruling party PiS has organised a convention on the future of Polish agriculture and the development of rural areas, specifically directed towards farmers. Although this meeting resembled any other propaganda technique used by the PiS party to polarise the society, it was the first to follow very strong anti-EU and anti-citizens decisions made by the Polish government. It thus can be used as a representation of the complete political and economic chaos, which is currently taking place in Germany’s first Eastern neighbor.

Poland Coal Industry, Gdynia Habour

The tale of coal and participation

Opinion By Zuzanna Zajac on May 31, 2021 | Reading time 3 min

According to Daniela Szymanska, professor Nicolaus Copernicus University, development happens on two scales: the horizontal and the vertical. The former is bounded by certain limits and includes factors such as the population’s rise of a certain city. The latter is unbounded, infinitely complex and includes factors such as diversification of human activity. Based on recent developments in Poland’s coal crisis, it is clear that the vertical development in Poland is kept in the hands of a few mainly politically affiliated players – which becomes increasingly problematic and ineffective.

Mateusz Morawiecki

The Politics of Confusion – The Third Fragment: Creating a Spectacle

Brief Analysis By Zuzanna Zajac on May 13, 2021 | Reading time 6 min

The world of politics is a difficult environment to understand. It is the responsibility of politicians is to handle this compound world in the most honest and constructive way to ensure the well-being of the state. In Poland, however, this obligation is far from being met. What ensues is an extensive amount of useless, chaotic information, which makes the world of politics seem more complex and the average citizens feel even more overwhelmed who thus become passive and submissive, with great consequences for the future of the Polish democracy.

Protests in Poland

Who safeguards our rights?

Brief Analysis By Zuzanna Zajac on April 19, 2021 | Reading time 3 min

The Advocate for Citizens Rights is claimed to be an independent legal authority, that is supposed to safeguard the rights of the inhabitants of a certain country. It goes without saying that this role as well as the responsibilities associated with it are of extreme importance. Nevertheless, considering the recent events that are taking place in Poland, this position proves more significant and problematic than ever.

Przemysław Czarnek

The Polish Politics Of Confusion – The Second Fragment: Perspectives for Young People

Brief Analysis By Zuzanna Zajac on April 5, 2021 | Reading time 7 min

According to OKO press, a polish investigative journalism website, 64% of young people would prefer to live and work outside of Poland. While there are diverse reasons for this, many respondents mention the current political, social and economic atmosphere as a reason. What are thus the economic and social challenges that young people must currently face and what vision of the future is the government laying in front of them?

Protests in Poland

The questionable status of the Polish Opposition

Opinion By Zuzanna Zajac on February 24, 2021 | Reading time 3 min

Amidst a raging pandemic, the Polish government published the decision by the Constitutional Tribunal in October 2020, which makes abortions in the instance of severe and irreversible impairment of the fetus illegal. Unsurprisingly people are on the streets, protest, rebel or decide to organise bottom-up dispersed forms of activism. However, the existence of these movements in themselves is not enough to create a strong counter system for the ruling, right-wing party PiS and thus the question: where is the opposition?

Racibórz Dolny

The challenges of Development-Induced Displacement in Poland

Brief Analysis By Zuzanna Zajac on February 1, 2021 | Reading time 6 min

The previous year 2020 was a year of stagnation for many industries worldwide, including the construction industry and thus, Poland was no exception. As the New Year is starting and medical developments are aiding the society in battling the coronavirus, the Polish construction sector seeks to recover through new investments, aided by the EU 2021-2017 Budget. While the establishment of new projects brings many new themes and hopes, it also reawakens old issues and concerns, one of them being the displacement of people.

Mateusz Morawiecki

The Polish Politics of Confusion – The First Fragment: The Population’s Trust

Opinion By Zuzanna Zajac on January 8, 2021 | Reading time 3 min

On January 4, the Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki held a Q&A session to answer questions on the government’s plans for 2021. Some received this speech as a reassurance, yet a vast majority approached the statement with scepticism and mistrust, caused mainly by the fact that throughout 2020, the government has often released numerous statements, which later turned out to be untrue, reversed, forgotten. The Poles find themselves in a difficult situation. Who can truly help them recover in 2021?