Department of Recent Political History

Research areas

The Department, founded by Andrzej Paczkowski and now led by Andrzej Friszke, engages in studies of political institutions of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL), especially Polish United Workers Party (PZPR) and security apparatus, as well as social behaviour, in particular formation of the opposition and civil resistance. Research also focuses on history of political emigration after 1945 and its impact on the developments in the country. In recent years two projects have been carried out: a) Political and social aspects of the functioning of the security apparatus under the communist system and b) Solidarity and institutions of power – systemic crisis and transformation. Methodologically, our scholars rely on extensive archive queries and interviews with actors under study.

The Department has published series of documents on PRL history and numerous individual monographs on the origins of the Polish systemic transformation, including ‘Centre of power in Poland 1948-1970’, ‘Political emigration 1945-1989’, ‘Solidarity – organizational structures and social movement’. These monographs constitute a fundamental contribution to the existing scholarship on Polish post-war history. Our work has been widely translated into English (see for example The Spring Will Be Ours by A. Paczkowski or Rebellious Satellite Poland 1956 by P. Machcewicz), German and Ukrainian.

Moreover, professor Dariusz Stola is director of POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) whereas professor Paweł Machcewicz is director of the Museum of the Second World War.

The Political Parties Archive constitutes an inherent part of the Department and furthers research on Polish political scene after 1989.

Our Faculty

Magdalena Semczyszyn, Ph. D.
Department of Recent Political History

Magdalena Semczyszyn, Ph. D.

Magdalena Semczyszyn is a historian and an Assistant Professor at the Department...
Tom Junes, Ph.D.

Tom Junes, Ph.D.

Tom Junes is a historian and assistant professor at the Institute of Political Studies...
Maciej Łuczak, Ph.D.

Maciej Łuczak, Ph.D.

Maciej Łuczak is a lawyer and political scientist, assistant professor at the Institute...
Department of Recent Political History

Sławomir Poleszak, Ph.D.

Sławomir Poleszak, is a historian. He specialises in research on the structures,...
Wojciech Łysek, Ph.D.
Department of Recent Political History

Wojciech Łysek, Ph.D.

Wojciech Łysek is a political scientist, assistant professor at the Institute of...
Jan Olaszek, Ph.D.
Department of Recent Political History

Jan Olaszek, Ph.D.

Research interests History of Poland 1944-1989 Democratic opposition in the Polish...
Professor Andrzej Friszke
Department of Recent Political History

Professor Andrzej Friszke

Research interests Political history of Poland after 1945 History of opposition under...
Professor Andrzej Paczkowski
Department of Recent Political History

Professor Andrzej Paczkowski

Research interests Recent History of Poland History of Communism Secret Services...
Professor Dariusz Stola
Department of Recent Political History

Professor Dariusz Stola

Research interests International migrations in the XX century Polish-Jewish relations...
Professor Piotr Osęka
Department of Recent Political History

Professor Piotr Osęka

Research interests Social and political history of Poland after 1944 History of security...
Professor Paweł Sowiński
Department of Recent Political History

Professor Paweł Sowiński

Research interests  Cold War and Polish political emigration. Anti-communist opposition...
Krzysztof Persak, Ph.D.
Department of Recent Political History

Krzysztof Persak, Ph.D.

Research interests Recent history of Poland Communist system Polish-Soviet relations...