Poland: A nation caught in a cultural crossfire
When Poland joined then European Union on May 1st, 2004, the lives of almost 44 million people changed overnight. For the first time in almost 60 years, Poles were free to move, without the need for specialist visas or governmental approval – a privilege previously afforded only to an elite few during decades of communist rule. Economic migration sored, with almost three million people locating to other member states, including, then member, the United Kingdom.
Whilst many Poles chose to leave in pursuit of economic prosperity, others chose to flee persecution. In a nation where over 90% of the population identify as catholic, to identify otherwise can be incredibly isolating, and in some cases perilous. Members of the LGBTQ+ have sought refuge in more liberal EU nations for this reason alone.
For the some 40 million Poles who remained, their nation has changed dramatically. In the first 15 years of Poland’s EU membership, it saw a staggering 160 billion euros in investment flood in. Polish GDP also grew by an unprecedented 81% in this period, the most dramatic increase of any EU nation.
With such an abundance of wealth flowing in, and a myriad of opportunities available for its citizens, ostensibly it may seem that Poland has embraced the EU with open arms. Whilst fiscally this may be true, in terms of social policy, particularly with regards to Women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, it has fiercely fought to preserve its traditional catholic vales.
Since coming into power in 2015, Poland’s ultraconservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), has sought to move Poland away from what it sees as liberal western values. Notibly, introducing legislation which led to the banning of abortion in almost all circumstances, including rape. A move that received widespread condemnation, particularly from human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, who have claimed that such legislation puts the lives of women at grave risk.
Beata Skokowska, a youth charity manager, living in Warsaw, believes that Poland is regressing in terms of human rights, because of what she calls, “right-wing propaganda” proported by PiS. Living in the 1990s in Poland, she felt safer as a queer woman than she does nowadays, she said: “In the 90s I was holding my girlfriend's hand in Szczecin. We felt so free after communism. Nobody really talked about gay people. Then this government (with their propaganda) started showing images of prides (not even in Poland) and started to scare people, that gay people would come and make their children gay.”
PiS incurred the wrath of the EU when its hostile attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, culminated in almost 100 local towns declaring themselves as “LGBT Free Zones” in 2019. Effectively banning any visible representation of the LGBT community taking place within these regions. The move sparked outrage within the EU, with its deliberate defiance of basic human rights, a key tenant of EU membership was broken.
In the wake of such definace, the EU has threated billions in financial sanctions, and there have even been suggestions that Poland could be ejected from the bloc or leave of their own volition – a move which has been dubbed ‘Polexit’ by factions of the press. In a 2021 poll conducted by Rzeczpospolita, a Polish broadsheet, 64% of respondents said that they wanted Poland to remain in the EU, with only 18% staunchly for Polexit.
Whilst such statistics still favour EU membership, it is evident that much work must be done to repair relations between Poland and the EU. Skokowska believes that women and the LGBTQ+ community have been used scapegoats by PiS (to mask a catalogue of corruption and failings) and that the younger generation will not tolerate this in the future, she said: "People can see that they are lying through their teeth and manipulating us. I really hope and believe that come the next election they will lose.”
Whilst Skokowska is optimistic that Poland will see a political backshift towards the left, Zofia S, a high school student from Warsaw, is less hopeful. Like many young, liberal people, she feels that she has little choice but to leave Poland in the immediate future, she said: “I can’t stay in this country anymore. I don’t feel safe. I am learning French now, and I will go to study in France.”
Despite a push from far-right conservatives, Zofia also does not envisage that Polexit will happen either, especially with the Russian-Ukraine war closeby, she said: “Our government has backtracked now with the war. I think they see that it is much safer for us to be part of the EU and not to be prey for Putin. I think the conservative people will have to accept the things that they do not like (LGBT and women’s rights) for us to be safer.”
Whether Poland remains in the EU or not, for Zofia, the current political situation remains untenable for her and many of her friends, she said: “Most of my friends want to leave and probably will. However, I know that this is a money thing. I recognise that not everyone can afford to do this.”
Whilst many people do not have the option to leave, many others who do, simply do not want to. Katarzyna Nowakowska, a director at women’s rights charity, Femionteka, has spent almost 30 years campaigning for women’s rights in Poland. She is determined to stay and fight, despite PiS’ attempts to curtail her work, she said: “The government has cut all funds for NGOs which are not affiliated with the church. One of the leading organisations for violence against children and women has had its funding given to an organisation which deal with exorcisms.”
Whilst PiS may be withdrawing funding from secular organisations, Nowakowska notes that EU funding is helping secular charities to continue to operate, she said: “We get most of our funding from Scandinavia. So, whilst we are in the EU, we can still receive support and continue our work.” Her organisation, like many, continues to rail back in the face of vehement opposion.
With such a complex history and geopolitical climate Poland stands on the cusp of a monumental political shift; whether that is further towards the right, or back towards left liberalism, only time will tell. For now, its crisis of identity rages on – the reprocussions of which may continue to reverberate for quite some time.