From the Anti-Semitic Campaign in 1968 to the Nationalism of the Populist Right 50 Years Later: Anti-Semitic Narrative in Poland as a Tool of Politics

Abstract

The main purpose of the article is to deconstruct slogans and phrases that transmit anti-Semitism in Poland despite the apparent changing political and historical context. It contains a comparative analysis of messages from two historical periods: the anti-Semitic campaign of 1968 and the nationalist and anti-Semitic revival in 2018. The material related to the 1968 events comes from archival press materials published between 1967 and 1968. On the other hand, materials illustrating the upsurge of anti-Semitism in the public space after the adoption of the memory law emanate from various sources representing the PiS (Law and Justice) party environment released between January and May 2018. The analysis of the anti-Semitic narrative from two different historical periods shows that nationalist message is always intended to strengthen the authoritarian power and mobilise its supporters by attacking imaginary opponents. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories in communist Poland served a similar function as anti-Semitic clichés under the rule of the populist right.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).