The New Poles on the first road: Culture and society of the postcommunist era

In trying to determine what is today's character of culture and society in Poland of the year 2000, I shall first have to make certain qualifying statements, and, next, I shall present, examine and evaluate some explanatory lines, or hypotheses, as to what are the processes which currently unfold before our eyes. Only then shall I present some conclusions, for which I bear the sole responsibility.

I shall start by taking a cursory glance at two interpretations of the political processes that currently take place in Poland (and elsewhere in the countries of former communist bloc), and at the socio-cultural implications, consequences, and interpretations of what we, the observers of …