Juraj Marušiak: The State and Behaviour of the Polish Minority Living in Czechoslovakia (1956–1962)
In the focus of the study is the state, behaviour of the Polish minority, to introduce the used violent methods by the communistic powers on the Polish minority in summer, fall of 1956 and at the end of the fifties. At the same time the study intends to refer to parallel events in connection with the Hungarian minority, calling attention to opportunities standing before comparation of such direction, and/or its importance.
The Czechoslovak communistic power in the second part of the fifties took steps to oppose to open behaviour of anti-minority nacionalism and did not decide to use the radical forms of reprisal, and to liquidate the Polish minority’s organisation (PZKO). At the same time, as well as in the case of other nationality minorities – Hungarians, Germans, Ukrainians – the organisation tried to control the cultural and social life of the given minority in whole extent. The relatively tolerant behaviour of Czechoslovaks to minorities, mainly comparing with other comministic parties, did not arise from the international policy of the leaders of the Czechoslovak Communistic Party. External factors played also a role in it – worries that the possible open conflict with the national minorities would shake the inner stability and international situation of the country. On the other hand despite the Polish minority’s positive behaviour in connection with the events in Poland in 1956 and strong religousness of Polish people living in the area of Tìšín, the Polish people living in Czechoslovakia, including the elite, was characterised by a relatively strong support of the policy of the Czechoslovak Communistic Party). This resulted mainly from negative experience that before 1948 the Polish minority gained in connection with its relationship and behaviour to civil powers.