Anti-Polish sentiment: Difference between revisions
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'''Anti-Polonism''' (alternatively spelled '''antipolonism'''; also, '''Polonophobia''') is a term describing a hostility toward [[Poles]] as a nation or as a cultural community. It has appeared in individual behavior as well as in institutionalized prejudice and persecution. |
'''Anti-Polonism''' (alternatively spelled '''antipolonism'''; also, '''Polonophobia''') is a term describing a hostility toward [[Poles]] as a nation or as a cultural community. It has appeared in individual behavior as well as in institutionalized prejudice and persecution. |
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While the term is commonly used in Polish (as "antypolonizm"), its use in English has been limited. It does not appear in major English dictionaries, and according to [[LexisNexis]] has been used only twice in English-language dailies or magazines within the past 10 years. It has, however been studied in scholarly works by Russian, German and English researchers. [http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/lukas.htm] |
While the term is commonly used in Polish (as "antypolonizm"), its use in English has been limited. It does not appear in major English dictionaries, and according to [[LexisNexis]] has been used only twice in English-language dailies or magazines within the past 10 years. It has, however been studied in scholarly works by Russian, German and English researchers. [http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/lukas.htm] |
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It is often associated with a Polish "[[black legend]]" and a belief that almost any evil or folly may be laid at the doorstep of the Poles. |
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Widespread forms of anti-Polonism have included: |
Widespread forms of anti-Polonism have included: |
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Revision as of 00:26, 25 October 2005
Anti-Polonism (alternatively spelled antipolonism; also, Polonophobia) is a term describing a hostility toward Poles as a nation or as a cultural community. It has appeared in individual behavior as well as in institutionalized prejudice and persecution.
While the term is commonly used in Polish (as "antypolonizm"), its use in English has been limited. It does not appear in major English dictionaries, and according to LexisNexis has been used only twice in English-language dailies or magazines within the past 10 years. It has, however been studied in scholarly works by Russian, German and English researchers. [1]
It is often associated with a Polish "black legend" and a belief that almost any evil or folly may be laid at the doorstep of the Poles.
Widespread forms of anti-Polonism have included:
- racist anti-Polonism, a variety of xenophobia;
- cultural anti-Polonism: a strong prejudice against Poles and Polish-speaking persons;
- organized persecution of Poles as an ethnic or cultural group, often based on the belief that Polish culture or interests are a threat to one's own national aspirations.
Anti-Polonism reached an extreme peak during World War II, when all of Polish society was the object of German genocidal policies.
More recent, "milder" forms of anti-Polonism have included disparaging "Polish jokes" and libelous references to World War II-era "Polish death camps" (actually German concentration camps built on occupied Polish territory, whose victims included hundreds of thousands of Poles). The World Jewish Congress stated in January 2005: "This is not a mere semantic matter. Historical integrity and accuracy hang in the balance.... Any misrepresentation of Poland's role in the Second World War, whether intentional or accidental, would be most regrettable and therefore should not be left unchallenged." [2] Considered slightly less offensive are the persistent German canards, dating back to World War II and meant to illustrate Polish stupidity or incompetence, that Polish cavalry "bravely but futilely" charged German tanks, and that the Polish Air Force was wiped out on the ground on the opening day of the war.
Anti-Polonism – analogously to other ethnic phobias – has been used as a tool by demagogs seeking their own personal, or their own ethnic group's, aggrandizement at the expense of a disparaged, demonized or dehumanized people.
See also
- Nur für Deutsche
- Anti-Semitism
- Xenophobia
- Anglophobia
- Francophobia
- Germanophobia
- Polonophobia
- Russophobia
- Sinophobia
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