Nationalism and Minority Relations in Contemporary Eastern Poland: Public Perceptions and Social Tensions

Abstract (English)

My speech will explore the dynamics between Poland’s ethnic majority and the Belarusian minority in the Podlasie region, using the city of Hajnówka as a case study. It will investigate how rising nationalism in Poland influences everyday intergroup relations and perceptions, particularly in communities with a complex historical memory. The analysis will center on the annual March in Honor of the Cursed Soldiers, held in Hajnówka between 2015 and 2022, and its social impact on local residents.
The march has become a flashpoint for tensions between the Catholic Polish majority and the Orthodox Belarusian minority. Of particular concern is the controversial legacy of Romuald Rajs “Bury,” a commander of postwar anti-communist forces implicated in the pacification of several Belarusian villages in 1946. For many in the Belarusian and Orthodox communities, the commemoration of such figures is experienced not as patriotic remembrance, but as a painful reminder of violence and exclusion.
This research examines how public commemorations tied to nationalist narratives can reinforce ethnic divisions, revive historical traumas, and contribute to the marginalization of minority communities. Through interviews and analysis of local discourse, the study reveals that such events can significantly shape intergroup perceptions, undermine social cohesion, and amplify feelings of insecurity among minority populations.
By situating this local case within broader European trends of resurgent nationalism, the project contributes to ongoing discussions on memory politics, ethnic relations, and the challenges of inclusive national identity in pluralistic societies.