Polish generations towards national identity in 2018‒2024

Abstract

The article analyses the national identity of Poles in the years 2018‒2024 from a generational perspective, focusing on the similarities and differences in the perception of Polishness among five social generations: “Si-lent Generation”, “Baby Boomers”, „X”, „Y” and „Z”. The theoretical aspect of the study refers to the public opinion model, as one of the four models of collective national identity indicated by Zbigniew Bokszański. The analysis is based on empirical data from nationwide and European surveys on such key aspects of the national identity of Poles as: self-identification and a sense of social ties, a sense of patriotism and national pride and shame, as well as social criteria of Polishness. The study synthesizes scattered, partial data and thus fills the gap in this type of syntheses in the literature on the subject. The analysis has shown both significant similarities and significant differences in the perception and feeling of national belonging. Regardless of age, all generations are characterized by a strong bond with Poland as a national and state community, as well as a high level of patriotism and national pride, and a stable hierarchy of social criteria of Polishness. Intergenerational cohesion in this regard can be an important resource in building social coherence, in counteracting social and political divisions, and in conducting intergenerational dialogue. At the same time, the results revealed significant differences in the ways of experiencing and expressing Polishness, which can be a potential source of both intergenerational and intragenerational tensions.