Poland Tolerance and Diversity Discourses WP 1 Draft report Prof. Michał Buchowski Katarzyna Chlewinska ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES Adam Mickiewicz University

Introduction Multiculturalism conceived of in historical terms/folklore Current society perceived as ethnically and religiously homogeneous Issues of tolerance arise re: national, ethno-religious, new immigrant and a-religious groups, and individuals (lifestyle, gender, sexuality) ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

1997 Constitution Embraces pluralism, anti-discrimination, national minorities’ rights to culture, traditions, religion, language and institutions Religious freedom for all; religion may be taught in schools if not infringing on others – but nothing specifically on tolerance ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

Minorities Movements of population post WW2  national/ethno-religious minorities Current immigration  smaller immigrant minorities NB Actual census numbers much lower than academic/interest- group estimates ‘National minorities’ (not always adjacent to state of nationality): Ukrainians, Germans, Belarussians, Russians, Lithuanians, Greeks, Slovaks Ethno-religious minorities: Jews, Muslims (indigenous Tatar Poles; Arab immigrants), Kairams ‘New’ minorities: Lemkos, Silesians, Kashubians Immigrants (< 1 % of the population) – former Soviet Union, also EU; refugees - Chechnya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

Challenges Minority policy – tension between aims and reality Catholic hegemony – absence of tolerance towards agnosticism and atheism Continuing anti-semitism Minority sexualities, gay and lesbian ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES