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Annual Report 2007

The Batory Foundation Debates

Batory Foundation Debates are an attempt at establishing an independent meeting and discussion forum for politicians, professionals, public intellectuals and journalists. The Foundation has long organized conferences and seminars on transition in Poland, international affairs, Poland’s foreign policy and the situation in Central and Eastern Europe with the aim to initiate public discourse on subjects important to the future of our state and region. In 2007, the subjects of our debates focused on the condition of Polish state and democracy, we undertook issues that evoked severe polemics and disputes, such as passing by the Parliament of the vetting (de-communization) law and continued discussions on Polish foreign policy.

Debates on Polish democracy

Journalists and de-communization

Panelists: Bogusław Chrabota (Director and Editor in Chief of Polsat TV), Igor Janke (journalist, Rzeczpospolita daily), Prof. Marek Safjan (professor of law, ex-President of the Constitutional Tribunal), Piotr Zaremba (journalist, Dziennik daily), Mariusz Ziomecki (Editor in Chief of Przekrój weekly), Jacek Żakowski (journalist, Polityka weekly). Moderators: Mirosława Grabowska (The Stefan Batory Foundation Board, Institute of Sociology, Warsaw University) and Prof. Marcin Król (The Stefan Batory Foundation Council, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Social Reintegration, Warsaw University).
The debate concerned the requirement, introduced by the vetting law, which obliged journalists, editors in chief and publishers of the press and electronic media to sign vetting declarations. The participants discussed whether journalists should be subject to vetting and whether the status of performing this profession of public trust requires disclosure of their biographies. Some panelists argued that readers, listeners, and viewers had the right to know the past of those who influenced public opinion. Participants debated the need to make the journalists account for their activity during the years of communism. Important bones of contention included whether the legislator may deprive journalists of the right to perform their profession for refusing to file a vetting declaration and impose vetting requirement on private media. Finally, the debate took up a fundamental issue of the relation between the law's requirements and the freedom of speech.

Vetting after the Constitutional Court ruling

Panelists: Prof. Wiktor Osiatyński (professor of law, Political Sciences Committee of Polish Academy of Sciences), Prof. Andrzej Rzepliński (professor of law, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights), Prof. Marek Zubik (professor of law, Faculty of Law and Administration, Warsaw University), Zbigniew Romaszewski (Senator of Polish Republic). Moderator: Prof. Jacek Kochanowicz (The Stefan Batory Foundation Board, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Warsaw University).
The debate concerned the situation after the Constitutional Court ruled certain provisions of the vetting law unconstitutional in its decision of May 2007. The majority of panelists agreed the Court verdict did not strike down the entire vetting law, but only its most controversial provisions (such as vetting of journalists). The participants of the debate discussed the extent of possible vetting and practical solutions allowed under the decision. They considered fundamental issues, such as: What is to be the goal and nature of vetting (whether it is a solution that ensures security and transparency in public life, or a form of settling past scores)?, What is the relationship between vetting and personal rights?, Which professional and social groups may be subject to vetting procedure? , How long should this law apply? They also deliberated how the vetting form to be filled out should look like and to what extent new solutions proposed by the politicians (e.g. complete access to the Institute for National Remembrance archives) were in line with the recent ruling, earlier Constitutional Court decisions, Polish Constitution and international agreements.

Polish society and transformation: completed process?

International Cooperation and Sustainable Development), Tomasz Merta (Deputy Minister of Culture and National Heritage), Małgorzata Starczewska-Krzysztoszek (Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan), Irena Wóycicka (Gdańsk Institute for Market Economics). Moderator: Prof. Andrzej Rychard (The Stefan Batory Foundation Board, Director of the Graduate School for Social Research/ Centre for Social Studies (CSS) Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences).
The debate was organized jointly with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland to culminate 15 years of operation of Matra Program of the Dutch government in Poland. The meeting reviewed changes in Poland since 1989 in several selected areas: building a civil society, social policy, corporate community involvement, and culture. The discussion focused on achievements as well as fundamental failures and negligence in these areas, including growing social exclusion caused by erroneous social policy and government moves leading to a dearth in social solidarity and feeling of community (e.g. the way in which retirement reform was implemented), alienation of NGOs from communities in which they operate and their inability to represent the interests of their beneficiaries, and the lack of reform in the cultural realm. The discussion also considered the extent to which the Polish experience may help other countries undergoing similar processes.

The state and society according to the Law and Justice Party

Panelists: Prof. Henryk Domański (Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of Polish Academy of Sciences), Prof. Antoni Kamiński (Institute of Political Studies of Polish Academy of Sciences), Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska (Director of the Institute of Public Affairs), Prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski (University of Bremen), Prof. Andrzej Rychard (The Stefan Batory Foundation Board, Director of the Director of the Graduate School for Social Research/ Centre for Social Studies (CSS) Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences), Wiesław Staśkiewicz (Faculty of Law and Administration, Warsaw University). Moderator: Aleksander Smolar (President of the Stefan Batory Foundation).
Political scientists, sociologists, lawyers, historians of ideas, and journalists took part in a conference aimed to assess achievements of the Law and Justice government in 2005-2007. The meeting concerned two areas: repair of the state and repair of the society. In the first part, the conference discussed the Law and Justice Party's vision of the state and law, institutional reforms announced by that government as well as the scope and manner of their implementation. Particular attention was devoted to changes in the functioning of the law and justice system as well as combating corruption. Panelists engaged in the argument over the recapitulation of Law and Justice activities, their effects and the depth of changes implemented (whether they were conducted solely in the sphere of propaganda and limited to impacting public opinion or if any significant institutional reforms were implemented over this time). The second part of the meeting concerned relations between politics and society, including the role and place of elites according to the Law and Justice party. The panelists discussed the tension between the liberal-influenced individualistic societal model and the adopted model of systemic transformation versus the "IV Polish Republic" project promoted by the Law and Justice party in 2005-2007. There was also a discussion about other divisions occurring over this period (including the relationship to the past and the manner of settling the score with the heritage of Communist Poland) and about the language of public discourse.

The state and democracy in Poland in 1989-2007. Accomplishments and perspectives

Panelists: Prof. Wiesław Chrzanowski (former Speaker of the Parliament), Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska (Director of the Institute of Public Affairs), Tadeusz Mazowiecki (former Prime Minister), Prof. Marek Safjan (former President of the Constitutional Tribunal), Prof. Piotr Winczorek (Faculty of Law and Administration, Warsaw University). Moderator: Aleksander Smolar (President of the Stefan Batory Foundation).
The debate was devoted to evaluating the Polish transformation since 1989, with particular emphasis on the functioning of the state and its institutions. Panelists pointed to achievements: economic reforms from the early 1990s, economic growth, building the foundations of the rule of law, decentralization of the state and implementation of local self-government, building good relations with neighbors, and membership in the European Union and NATO. Challenges and problems arising over this time were also discussed, including social inequality, disparities in social development, weak institutions, and degeneration of the party system resulting, i.a., from the system of financing political parties from state budget.

The repair of the state and democracy

Panelists: Rafał Matyja (Higher School of Business - National Louis University in Nowy Sącz), Sławomir Sierakowski (Editor in Chief of Krytyka Polityczna quarterly), Jan Rokita (former MP, Civic Platform party), Prof. Jan Widacki (MP, Left and Democrats coalition). Moderator: Aleksander Smolar (President of the Stefan Batory Foundation).
The discussion was preceded by a lecture by Jan Rokita on the fundamental problems facing the Polish state and the Polish democratic system. In the discussion, most panelists emphasized the weakness of the authorities and inability to implement planned political goals, institutional ineffectiveness, problems with the functioning of the party system and weak civic involvement. They pointed to Law and Justice party's failure to remedy the state despite the party decisive victory in the parliamentary elections of 2005. They disputed feasibility and political will to implement serious reforms by the current government. Some panelists underlined new situation after the latest parliamentary elections of October 2007: a process of post-election social demobilization and emergence of new expectations of voters who primarily desire prosperity and social tranquility, not revolutionary changes. Panelists analyzed whether the electoral result which gave Civic Platform party a mandate to rule the country may be interpreted as social consent to return to political practice prior to 2005.

Debates on important social issues

Artur Żmijewski's film A Pole in the Closet as a voice in the discussion on the Sandomierz paintings

Panelists: Helena Datner (Jewish Historical Institute), Dariusz Karłowicz (Teologia Polityczna yearly), Stanisław Krajewski (Co-Chairman of Polish Council of Christians and Jews), Zbigniew Nosowski (Editor in Chief of Więź monthly, Co-Chairman of Polish Council of Christians and Jews), Prof. Joanna Tokarska-Bakir (Institute of Applied Social Sciences, Warsaw University), Leszek Tyboń (President of Ekosan Association) and Artur Żmijewski (artist). Moderator: Agnieszka Sabor (Tygodnik Powszechny weekly).
The discussion centered on paintings located in Sandomierz cathedral and St. Paul's church presenting the so-called ritual murder by Jews, as well as on the results of field research on the presence of anti-Semitic attitudes and popularity of legends of ritual murders of Jews among the residents of Sandomierz area. A group of students from the Institute of Applied Social Sciences and anthropology majors from Collegium Civitas university conducted the research under the guidance of Prof. Joanna Tokarska-Bakir. The starting point in the discussion was the premiere of a film by Artur Żmijewski, A Pole in the Closet, which shows workshop activities at the Center for Contemporary Art in Warsaw with the participation of students taking part in the Sandomierz research. There was a dispute as to what should be done with the paintings. The current situation, i.e., the paintings' presence in the churches without even a word of commentary explaining the falsity of the depicted events, was deemed scandalous by all participants. The panelists discussed how to deal with anti-Semitic convictions and the possibilities offered by education and contemporary art in dealing with the difficult baggage of the past.
The transcripts of the discussion was published by the literary quarterly Kresy (2007, No. 4). Its Polish version is also available on Batory Foundation's Internet page.

Memory as an object of power

Panelists: Marek Cichocki (Natolin European Centre), Maciej Janowski (Institute of History of Polish Academy of Sciences), Prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski (University of Bremen), Prof. Marcin Król (The Stefan Batory Foundation Council, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Social Reintegration, Warsaw University), Prof. Joanna Tokarska-Bakir (Institute of Applied Social Sciences, Warsaw University). Moderator: Jarosław Kurski (The Stefan Batory Foundation Board, Deputy Editor in Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza daily).
The discussion was devoted to Polish disputes about the role of the state in building and cultivating historical memory. Participants discussed the extent to which politicians' ambitions to influence the choice of events to be remembered are justified and the policy of the state and its agencies toward history. They also compared the Polish experience to that of other states (primarily France, Germany and Russia). Questions were asked about the role of the state in reinforcing the political and civic community and the extent to which the state could and should shape national memory. One of the points in the debate was the relationship between policy of remembrance and the sphere of individual rights and freedoms. Some panelists pointed out the dangers that might arise from the involvement of authorities in the sphere of memory: the temptation to manipulate the past, forcing a single vision convenient to politicians, and limitations on the freedom of history research. Supporters of the policy of remembrance underscored its significance for the maintenance of identity and tradition as well as the functioning of the national community of citizens. An important point of the debate was the consequence of the historical politics for relations with our neighbors.
The Gazeta Wyborcza daily published an abbreviated transcript of the debate, while the whole transcript was published in book format, entitled Memory as an object of power (Warsaw 2007). It is also available on Batory Foundation's web page (in Polish language version).

The Beata Pawlak Award

The Beata Pawlak Award was established pursuant to the last will of Beata Pawlak, Polish journalist and writer killed in a terrorist attack on Bali in 2002. It is awarded annually to an author of an article or publication on foreign cultures, religions and civilizations. The prize is financed from the Fund administered by the Foundation.
In 2007 the Beata Pawlak Award was given to Mariusz Szczygieł for his book Gottland (Czarne Publishers, 2006). The award ceremony was accompanied by a photography exhibition of works by Elżbieta Piekacz Encounter. A shard of reflection and a debate:

Travel to understand oneself

Panelists: Prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski (University of Bremen), Cezary Michalski (Deputy Editor in Chief of Dziennik daily), Aleksander Smolar (President of the Stefan Batory Foundation), Joanna Szczęsna (journalist, Gazeta Wyborcza daily). Moderator: Jarosław Kurski (The Stefan Batory Foundation Board, Deputy Editor in Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza daily).
A discussion was devoted to the travel as an opportunity to confront one’s own experiences and imaginings. Participants discussed opportunities offered by trips, such as getting to know oneself and seeing other people and communities in a new light. Speakers compared their own experiences from long-term, sometimes multiyear, stays in other countries (France, Germany, the United States). Some were forced to emigrate, others went abroad of their own free will for a scholarship or to take up an attractive employment. Panelists considered how the experiences abroad changed their view of Poland and affected their position in current civilization and cultural disputes. They tried to answer the question of whether and how their time abroad influenced the opinions they proffer and the way they describe and explain contemporary Poland.

Debates on Polish foreign policy

Poland and the World

The discussion of former foreign ministers of Poland: Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Prof. Bronisław Geremek, Andrzej Olechowski, Prof. Dariusz Rosati, Prof. Adam Daniel Rotfeld and Prof. Krzysztof Skubiszewski concerned Polish foreign policy since 1989 and the challenges faced presently by Polish diplomacy. In taking accounts of the up-to-date Polish foreign policy the ministers highlighted excellent achievements of Polish diplomacy: recognition of Poland’s borders and establishing proper or even good relations with our neighbors, membership in NATO and the European Union, establishing an alliance relationship with the United States, as well as formation of a professional diplomatic corps. They also pointed to the problems that appeared in recent years: breakdown of a consensus concerning foreign policy in Poland, crisis in our relations with Russia, tension in Polish-German relations, as well as damaged image of Poland within the European Union.
The transcript of the discussion, supplemented by the articles submitted by two other foreign ministers: Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski and Prof. Stefan Meller, who could not attend the meeting, was published in a book: Poland and the World.

EU foreign policy toward Russia

Panelists: Mark Leonard (Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations), Prof. Adam Daniel Rotfeld (former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Paweł Świeboda (Director of demosEUROPA Centre for European Strategy). Moderator: Aleksander Smolar (President of the Stefan Batory Foundation).

The seminar was devoted to relations between the European Union and Russia, as well as Poland's role in formulating Community policy toward its eastern neighbor. Participants considered relations between Poland and Russia, debated how Polish politics should embrace the European dimension and the expectations and interests of other Union members, where we might look for Poland's allies in understanding Polish point of view, what tools were available to Poland's diplomacy, as well as what challenges the new government faces. The starting point for the discussion was a report by Marek Leonard and Nicu Popescu A Power Audit of EU-Russia Relations, published by London's European Council of Foreign Relations.

New Polish foreign policy

Panelists: Paweł Kowal (Law and Justice MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Andrzej Olechowski (former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Prof. Dariusz Rosati (MEP, Left and Democrats coalition, former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Radosław Sikorski (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Civic Platform cabinet). Moderator: Aleksander Smolar (President of the Stefan Batory Foundation).
The debate was devoted to the foreign policy of Donald Tusk's cabinet. Participants discussed what our policy priorities should be as well as whether and how these should differ from those of the previous government. Particular attention was given to relations between Poland, the European Union and the United States (including the presence of Polish troops in Afghanistan and Iraq). The issues discussed included also Poland's relations with Germany and with the eastern neighbors, as well as the threats connected with Poland's accession to the Schengen agreement for our relationship with Ukraine. Changes in Poland's policy toward Russia announced by Donald Tusk's government were a separate point of discussion.

In 2007, the program was financed by funds from the Open Society Institute, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (PLN 5,365.24), the European Council on Foreign Relations (PLN 8,135.60) and Beata Pawlak Fund (PLN 10,000).

Program costs

Beata Pawlak Award PLN 10,000.00
Debates and publications PLN 172,639.56
Total program costs PLN 182,639.56

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