Politics of Time : Dynamics of Identity in Post-Communist Poland

Political time or the past as a political issue. Memory of politics, politics of memory: the politics of the past in post-totalitarian Poland ; Mechanisms of exclusion and inclusion ; Liberating the future from the past: liberating the past from the future ; The politics of political biography: self-realization, loyalty, and political change ; Civil society as an ethical challenge ; Life as simulacrum: Stanislaw Llem's science fiction. Social time or the ontology of expectations. Ontology of expectations ; Genealogy of expectations ; The myth of the unity of the nation ; Marxism as a way of life: the failure of an impossible project ; The mythologies of solidarity. Perspectives on time: from philosophy to anthropology. The problem of time in pragmatism and phenomenology ; Time, dialogue, and society ; Time and social practices ; Politics of memory, politics of time. Epilogue: what has happened to us? The rise of post-post-communism. The emergence of post-post-communism or populist post-communism ; What is post-post-communism? ; Democracy against democracy or who has hijacked the common background? ; Possible scenarios and two conservatisms ; New tribalism, post-post-communism, and the politics of time ; Epilogue-supplement. App. Post-communism and pop music: annihilation or restoration of memory in disco-polo. Two views on disco-polo: intellectuals' "horror vacui" and the nation's hope ; "All Poles" or what is disco-polo? ; The glorious past and the Slavic soul ; In opposition to the west ; Disco-polo and the dilemmas of Polish past and present

What has really happened in Poland since the election of 2005? After such spectacular events as the practice of lustration and the questioning of solidarity with the European Union, one has to ask: what is the nature of this newly emerging society? As with many of the recent developments in former communist countries that seem to be mysterious and irrational, the situation and ensuing problems are complex and the answers neither trivial nor easy. This book, by the distinguished Polish philosopher, addresses these complexities through the role of the communist past in post-communist Poland. It describes the events that led to the collapse of the Solidarity program and the growing influence of the nationalistic and religious parties in the government. The author investigates the nature of social and political temporality and develops a theoretical framework that allows him to apply his conclusions not only to Poland but also to other formerly communist countries.

Leszek Koczanowicz is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Cultural Studies Department at University of Lower Silesia (DSW) in Wroclaw. His previous affiliations include Wroclaw University (1977-1997), Opole University (1997-2002), SUNY/Buffalo (1998-1999 and 2000-2001), and Columbia University (2004-2005) where he was Distinguished Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs. He is an author and editor of six books and numerous articles in Polish and English.

Politics of Time 2 Contents 8 Preface 10 Chapter 1. Political Time or the Past as a Political Issue 14 Memory of Politics, Politics of Memory 14 Mechanisms of Exclusion and Inclusion 31 Liberating the Future from the Past 34 The Politics of Political Biography 41 Civil Society as an Ethical Challenge 55 Life as Simulacrum: Stanislaw Lem’s Science Fiction 67 Chapter 2. Social Time or the Ontology of Expectations 80 Ontology of Expectations 80 Genealogy of Expectations 85 The Myth of the Unity of the Nation 87 Marxism as a Way of Life 96 The Mythologies of Solidarity 110 Chapter 3. Perspectives on Time 122 The Problem of Time in Pragmatism and Phenomenology 122 Time, Dialogue, and Society 130 Time and Social Practices 133 Politics of Memory, Politics of Time 145 Epilogue. What has Happened to Us? 150 The Emergence of Post-post-communism or Populist Post-communism 150 What is Post-post-communism? 152 Democracy against Democracy or Who has Hijacked the Common Background? 156 Possible Scenarios and Two Conservatisms 158 New Tribalism, Post-post-communism, and the Politics of Time 162 Epilogue – Supplement 163 Appendix. Post-communism and Pop Music 166 Two Views on Disco-polo 166 “All Poles” or What is Disco-polo 167 The Glorious Past and the Slavic Soul 170 In Opposition to the West 172 Disco-polo and the Dilemmas of Polish Past and Present 174 NOTES 176 BIBLIOGRAPHY 186 Index 190