State Memory History. On memory of Poles and Ukrainians in the lights of surveys from 2018

Transcription

1 Centre of Urban History of East Central Europe State Memory History Tomasz Stryjek Joanna Konieczna-Sałamatin Natalia Otrishchenko On memory of Poles and Ukrainians in the lights of surveys from 2018 ISTORICAL CULTURES IN TRANSITION H memory, history and identity

2 About Research project Historical Cultures in Transition: Negotiating Memory, History and Identity in the Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe is financed by Polish National Science Centre and implemented by consortium of two institutions from Poland: Institute of Political Studies Polish Academy of Sciences Private university Our Ukrainian partner is: Centre of Urban History of East Central Europe End of the project: March 2020

3 About survey data In both countries surveys were representative for the adult population. In Ukraine random sample 2500 respondents; in Poland random-quota sample 1500 respondents.

4 About the analyses Results of our analyses are presented most often in regional and generational groups Regional division* Generational divisions: ZIEMIE ZACHODNIE I PÓŁNOCNE ZABÓR PRUSKI ZIEMIE ZACHODNIE I PÓŁNOCNE KONGRESÓWKA GALICJA WESTEN REGION CENTRAL REGION 1. Born before (in Poland: 1970 the end of Gomulka s leadership) and (in Ukraine: 1972 the end of Shelest leadership) (Poland) and (Ukraine) 4. Born after1990 (in Poland including 1990, in Ukraine from 1991) EASTERN REGION * Boundaries of the historical regions are approximate, because the ones of real real historical regions were different from voivodship borders. SOUTHERN REGION

5 Can the state interpret the past? UA: Does the state have a right to decide about interpretation of the past events? PL: Should Sejm and Senate adopt legal acts that establish the interpretation of the historical events from World War II and communist times? 24% 6% 25% 32% 12% 13% 26% 28% Definitely not Rather not Rather yes Definitely yes NO YES Ukrainians: 49% Poles: 45% Ukrainians: 39% Poles: 31% 13% 21% Don't know / Hard to say Poland Ukraine

6 Can the state interpret the past? UA: Does the state have a right to decide about interpretation of the past events? PL: Should Sejm and Senate adopt legal acts that establish the interpretation of the historical events from World War II and communist times? 52% 26% 37% 44% 37% 32% 33% 53% 63% 25% 44% 55% 41% 82% NO (definitely + rather) YES (definitely + rather) 13% 28%

7 Can the state interpret the past? Was the Volhynia crime of a genocide? 20% Don't know 7% 37% No (rather + definitely) Rather yes Definitely yes 40% 31% 37% 38% 37% 47% 40% 34% 29% 29% 13% 16% 21% before and later Definitely yes Don't know

8 Can the state interpret the past? Was the Holodomor a genocide? 9% 11 % 26% 54% Don't know No (rather + definitely) Rather yes Definitely yes definitely yes and definitely no In Ukriainian regions 74% 61% 1% 3% 30% 14% 40% 6%

9 Citizens interest in the past 59% Poland Ukraine 25% 36% 10% 9% 28% 13% 36% Percentages of those definitely interested in the indicated aspects of the past Past of your family Past of your town Past of your region Past of your country 5% of Poles and 23% of Ukrainians are definitely interested in all 4 aspects of the past. Taking together definitely yes and rather yes gives 45% of interested in Poland and 67% in Ukraine.

10 Interest in the past why is this important? to know who I am, where am I from 59% 53% to better understand today's political and social events to have interesting stories for my friends, acquaintances and guests from other countries an educated person is supposed to be interested in the past to help children or grand children who go to school 8% 24% 31% 19% 23% 31% 15% 19% to resit the politicians' manipulations and lies 9% 10% this is part of my professional activity other 2% 2% 2% 0% Ukrainians Poles 11% of Poles and 6% of Ukrainians indicated no reason for being interested in the past. In both countries one could indicate up to 2 reasons, in both countries the most frequent behaviour was indicating the most popular reason as the only one.

11 Interest in the past why is this important? Ukrainians feel they live in the times of historical meaning. Over half of the sample (57%) declared that yes, one of the historical events had a direct impact on the life of their family. Substantial number of indicated events were from the near past: Maidan (2013/2014), orange revolution (2004) etc. The most frequently mentioned historical period was, however, World War II. In Poland only 29% said, history had entered their families life. The most frequently mentioned events were (as in Ukraine) the ones from World War II. The most contemporary event was martial law (1981).

12 Sources of information School lessons in history Watching fabular films Watching documentaries Talking to parents, family members, friends Visiting museums Visiting places of historical events Reading literature, belles-lettres Meeting wittnesses of historical events Reading academic literature in history Reading dedicated internet portals about history Reading daily and weekly press Classes, lectures in history at universities Visiting special tematic exhibtions Taking part in discussions, public debates and Reading special press supplements on history None of the above 5% 12% 9% 5% 6% 9% 0% 8% 3% 34% 32% 33% 34% 29% 25% 16% 32% 14% 23% 12% 23% 11% 22% 14% 14% 23% Poland Ukraine 48% 47% 46% 45% 45% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 68% Number of information sources Ukraine Poland

13 Common perception of the past Were there any events important for the history of Poland in the period of ? Were there any events important for the history of Ukraine in the period of ? Opinions of Poles 52% 13% 35% Opinions of Ukrainians 57% 10% 33% Yes No Don't know Events mentioned by Poles: Regaining independence, beginning of the independence of Poland 55% indications; War between Poland and Bolsheviks, Warsaw battle of 1920, miracle on Vistula 24% of indications; The end of World War I 19% indications; Uprisings (in Greater Poland, in Silesia) 15% indications. Events mentioned by Ukrainians: October revolution 47% indications; Civil war 10% indications; ZUNR, UNR, Akt Zluki (Act of reunion), IV Universal 9% indications; The end of World War I 7% indications; Struggle for the independence of Ukraine, Kruty battle 4% indications.

14 (Lack of) Knowledge about the past Average number of unknown figures (out of 27) in regions of Poland and Ukraine. 3,1 Generally average number for Poland was 3,6 of unknown figures and for Ukraine 5,9. 3,7 3,1 5,4 4,3 5,9 6,4 7,1

15 How to talk about the past? In history there were both situations in which Poles / Ukrainians behaved heroically, as well as those in which the behaviour of some of them deserved to be condemned. One should openly talk about both today in order to draw conclusions from history. Even if in the past there were situations in which the behaviour of some Poles / Ukrainians deserved to be condemned, today we should not talk about it publicly, because it weakens our state. Percentages of those who agreed with this opinion: Percentages of those who agreed with this opinion: Ukrainians 63% Ukrainians 18% Poles 55% Poles 24%

16 Polish and Ukrainian view of historical guilt Were there such events in the history of Polish-Ukrainians relations in the 20th century, about which Ukrainians today should feel guilty towards Poles? Were there such events in the history of Polish-Ukrainians relations in the 20th century, about which Poles today should feel guilty towards Ukrainians? 27% 23% 50% 52% 41% 21% 31% 47% 36% 29% 36% 8% Yes No Don't know Opinions of Ukrainians Opinions of Poles Opinions of Ukrainians Opinions of Poles Historical guilt of Poles towards Ukrainians Historical guilt of Ukrainians towards Poles

17 Polish and Ukrainian view of historical guilt Answers to the same questions in 2013* 73% 50% 52% 33% 35% 40% 43% 17% 13% Yes No Don't know 17% 17% 11 % Opinions of Ukrainians Opinions of Poles Opinions of Ukrainians Opinions of Poles Historical guilt of Poles towards Ukrainians Historical guilt of Ukrainians towards Poles * Data: 2013 institute for Public Affairs

18 Polish and Ukrainian view of historical guilt Comparison of 2013 and % 12% 18% 30% 31% 23% 3% 33% 7% 18% 50% 30% 33% 2% 6% 42% 24% 7% 13% 15% Both nations are guilty Poles are guilty, Ukrainians are not Ukrainians are guilty, Poles are not No one is guilty Don't know Poles Ukrainians Data: 2013 Institute for Public Affairs; 2018 Collegium Civitas and ISP PAN

19 Centre of Urban History of East Central Europe State Memory History Tomasz Stryjek Joanna Konieczna-Sałamatin Natalia Otrishchenko Thank You! ISTORICAL CULTURES IN TRANSITION H memory, history and identity