Screaming patriotism sounds like Poland long and wide. Let us listen: does it not spread beyond the battlefield to the death in the name of the Fatherland? Or is it accompanied by large economical or technological successes, realized thanks to the ingenuity and work of Poles?
Well, no. The patriotic cry comes primarily from the political bustle of ritual. That is to say, an undertaking that did not bring any tangible, applicable effects, but only emotional discharge of the participants of the rite and their contention – thanks to it they left without losing their boots, and at the same time their bond with transcendence weakened them. The rituals – as it turned out: executed, inflamed – were Polish insurrections, starting with the Bar confederation, through the January uprising, until the Warsaw Uprising. It did not guide them (which is due to the nature of the ritual) to rationally calculate their own forces in conjunction with the enemy's war power, nor did it encourage a sober assessment of political capabilities to supply global support: material (and preferably military) and diplomatic support. The slogan of the 3 insurrections, after the first inevitable setbacks, proclaimed: "to endure," "to bear witness." In defeats, in empty Polish blood. In national martyrdom.
The ritual manner of empowerment in past was embodyed by the politics of written regulation between 2005 and 2007 and 2015-2023. A policy of “decent” bloating and puffing, challenging “the eternal enemies of Poland” to a ferdydurous duel for dangerous mines. And through the political simulakrum, in the form of anniversary marches, thundering oracies, solemn Masses for the Homeland, the battles of historical reconstruction groups in the field, this policy was telling Polish storytellers – after all, not reasonable Poles – an revealing mythologist, under which Poland "rightly" did not lose the defensive war in 1939, "actually" won the Warsaw Uprising, and "final defeat" gave the Soviets and Teutons the choice of Lech Kaczyński as president and the establishment of government with Jarosław Kaczyński at the head.
That's why the closeness of thought and thought is blowing up words Łukasz Jastrzębski (Myśl, 1-8 February 2026), It is impossible to identify with “patriots” who are impressed by the anti-Russian crusade called on by Leon Degrelle, who lay down their cross on the “promethean ramoty”; therefore, there is no fraternising with “internet patopatriots, anti-communist misfits, a Smolenian sect, uncritical devotees of insurgent fucks and partisans of the war, clerical goons with pan-sized gutters, enthusiasts of a supranational empire and fans of fairy tales about large Lechia”. Thus says a man who considers himself a national Democrat; and precisely the same, jota in Jota, would say any rational Pole. Who at the same time is convinced that he should be called a patriot due to rationality.
For at least a twelve years, attoli patriotism has been seized by at least a twelve people's trumpets playing with a patriotic town where the Law and Justice champions. These plays consist of the patriotism of the feast, which is simply a compounded calculus of the abroad policy of the “decent” PiS, which cannot be denied the impertinence and simplicity. And ineffective. In this rite around the beloved Homeland, the Citizen's Platform, ready to bid on the PiS, which is "more patriotic" from both groups, is besides presented to patriotic subduing. Which better sneaks into the hearts of the patriotic Polish feast and kidnaps the guests. Marked symmetry continues to bring together the 2 groups in the COPIS, which is more complicated by political life in the wedge than produces any creative impulses. Political sound and auctioning of patriotism does not make a situation conducive to the advancement of modernization and crystallization of the modern Polish nation.
Such patriotism discourages rational and creative Poles who position their feelings for their homeland differently. Patriotism is understood as a request of creative and innovative work for Poland. Work to increase its material wealth, which will benefit the full national community, according to its own contribution, but besides according to the rule of not allowing socially weakest Poles to trample poorness and humiliate powerlessness.
Only creative work for the prosperity of Poland – due to the “richness of the nation” (to usage phraseology) Adam Smith) results in possible power position – authenticates modern Polish patriotism. erstwhile Poland will grow dynamically thanks to advanced technologies (so that they will be Polish as frequently as possible!) and it will become rich, efficiently organize and administer state existence, stimulate creative forces of individuals and people – then you can not shout phrases in patriotic exultation, but say calmly and decisively: Poland is great! Real, with your power.
At the same time, given Poland's historical entanglements, it should be noted that it is inactive being burdened by the agrarna pre-modernity, which lies in extended provincial areas, but besides harassing any segments of the urban community. There is besides a weak level of innovation among Poles, who are overpowered by the conventional burden of mediocrity, dojutrification, "life in their own way" (as he put it aforesisticly just now intellectual PiS, Marek Suski). On top of that, the spirit of creativity in today's Poland grew and truly choked the manners of satisfaction with the function of subcontractors in global production and commodity chains. On this way of catching-up improvement – and increasingly enticing – there are many obstacles, including threatening economies even a dynamic, but not innovative, average income trap. In turn, this average Poland, displacing it into the ellipse of European and especially non-European countries, which, despite their success in modernization, are incapable to decision to the phase of endogenous post-industrial development.
Involved in this trap, Poland can then forget about its dreams of falling into power, i.e. establishing an autonomous and self-contained global environment. It will then be destined to drift towards real powers with which Poland binds, in addition to geographical proximity, a historical-cultural bond, political and systemic symmetry, a coherent economical interest. This does not necessarily mean diminishing sovereignty, as this depends on a competent designation of the intentions of the another party, professional negotiations and well-written treaties. And the patriotic unrest in this area immediately degrades the negotiating opportunities on our side.
The openness of Poland, the imagination and the insubordination of superstition, cognition and competence constitute our possible in global activity. Demonstrative Polish patriotism: the spread of white and red, martyrdom, ryngraphers and vots will not be treated with reverence, alternatively it will be mocked in spirit and publically ridiculed. Samuel Johnson, an 18th-century literary student and political journalist, considered manifestive patriotism to be the last haven of the villains. It is worth listening to the words of a prominent intellectual of British Enlightenment. And draw conclusions, I guess. That above all in today's Poland 1 should be a decent man: wise, professional, open and empathic. And only in the last instance a patriot. But surely not noisy.
Prof. Jarosław Bratkiewicz
Notes about the author: Politologist and diplomat, Russian scholar, 1997–2001 Polish Ambassador to Latvia. He was, among others, Deputy manager of the Department of strategy and abroad Policy Planning, manager of the east MFA Department (since December 2007) and Political manager of the MFA.
Think Poland, No. 9-10 (1-8.03.2026)