Celebrating Statehood Anniversaries as a Part of Poland's National Policy in Galicia in the Interwar Period
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: In the period of 1919–1939, Poland paid considerable attention to the newly annexed Western Ukrainian lands, directing its efforts to the implementation of an active national policy and the integration of these territories into the Second Polish Republic. One of the central elements of this strategy was the celebrations dedicated to the anniversaries of the restoration of Polish statehood, which for the Polish authorities performed not only an integrational function, but also became a means to enhance political influence in the Western Ukrainian lands as well as to emphasize and assert Polish sovereignty in these territories. Celebrating the anniversaries of the restoration of statehood also played an important role in national self-awareness, as the agenda dedicated to these anniversaries contributed to the strengthening of Polish patriotism and tried to reduce the influence of local identities. The Polish authorities spent significant efforts to create a positive image of the Polish state among the local population. Through mass events, including anniversaries, propaganda campaigns, religious festivities, and educational initiatives, the Polish authorities tried to reinforce the idea of unity and common interests with the local population. The festivities also served as an important tool for strengthening the integration of the western Ukrainian lands into the structures of the Polish state. This was aimed to create an impression of united community and general integrity of the new territory with Poland, which, in turn, facilitated the control and management of the region. Therefore, the solemn anniversaries of the restoration of Polish statehood in the Western Ukrainian lands played a multifaceted role. They served as a means of political influence and an instrument of integration, as well as an element of national identity politics. The celebrations contributed to the creation of a positive image of the Polish state among the local population, while at the same time causing resistance and tension on the part of the Ukrainian community, which continued to fight for its national rights and identity. While the Jewish, Armenian, German and other national minorities were ignored in the rhetoric of the organizers of the celebrations, the Ukrainian national minority was portrayed as a force that tried to oppose the construction of then new Polish state. This situation, accordingly, contributed to the formation of an antagonistic national policy of Polish governments towards a significant number of citizens of the Second Polish Republic, which, in turn, contributed to the spread of narratives that actively strengthened the struggle against the authorities. The involvement of organizations related to the “defense of Lviv” in 1918 was particularly negatively perceived by the Ukrainian minority. Ukrainians considered these organizations as enemies of their own statehood, which greatly complicated their perception of the Second Polish Republic as their own state. The negative perception of Polish organizations involved in the celebrations by the Ukrainian minority pointed to serious national opposition that existed in interwar Poland. This caused significant difficulties in building a unified national narrative and complicated the process of forming a common state identity. The antagonistic policy of Polish governments towards national minorities not only exacerbated inter-ethnic conflicts, but also contributed to the formation of oppositional sentiments. Keywords: Poland, Western Ukraine, statehood, Second Polish Republic, anniversaries, national policy, political influence, sovereignty, governance, identity politics, national identity, patriotism, unity, propaganda, integration, Ukrainian inhabitants, interethnic misunderstandings, Jewish population.
Author: Ivan FEDYK
Institution: Lviv University
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4405314211