Politics of Time
Dynamics of Identity in Post-Communist Poland
1st Edition
Published on 1. August 2008
Book
Hardback
196 pages
978-1-84545-510-1 (ISBN)
Description
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Library binding
Illustrations
Bibliography; Index
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
464 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84545-510-1 (9781845455101)
DOI
10.3167/9781845455101
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2008
Berghahn Books
€111.99
Available for download
Person
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.
Content
Preface
Chapter 1. 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 Lem's Science Fiction
Chapter 2. 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
Chapter 3. 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
Appendix: 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
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Chapter 1. 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 Lem's Science Fiction
Chapter 2. 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
Chapter 3. 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
Appendix: 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
Notes
Bibliography
Index