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Attacked for being liberal

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Providing a forum for political debate
Aleksander Smolar Political scientist
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O, w ramach bardzo skromnych możliwości chciałbym taką rozumiejącą analizę popularyzować. Nie po to, żeby szukać porozumienia z tymi władzami, chociaż my zapraszamy ludzi bliskich władzy i ci bardziej tacy intelektualni, otwarci przychodzą do nas. Kiedyś występowali u nas jeden i drugi Kaczyńscy na przykład, do Fundacji przychodzili. I inni również wybitni politycy, ale w przypadku innych było to bardziej naturalne, ale nawet ci. Więc my pozostajemy otwarci w stosunku do idei, równocześnie jesteśmy polemiczni – przepraszam: w stosunku do ludzi pozostajemy otwarci i z szacunkiem ich przyjmujemy. To znaczy oni wiedzą, że przychodząc do nas, nie są narażeni na agresję, tylko na cywilizowane warunki i rozmowę. Równocześnie mamy bardzo wyraźną postawę i ja nigdy – to jest w jakimś sensie status, jaki sobie zdobyłem, to znaczy mimo to, że kieruję organizacją pozarządową, nikt nie kwestionuje, że równocześnie jestem uczestnikiem – i to w bardzo wyrazistych tezach – debat publicznych, gdzie wyraźnie, że tak powiem, mówię, za jaką jestem Polską i przeciwko jakiej jestem Polsce.

I’d like to promote a comprehensive analysis, modest though my means are. Not in any attempt to find common ground with the authorities, although we do invite people who are close to the powers that be; those who are more open and intellectually-minded do come to us. On one occasion, both of the Kaczyńskis came to give a lecture supported by the Foundation. Other outstanding politicians have also come although it was more natural for them to be there, but even these two… So we’re open to the idea while at the same time we are polemical – I’m sorry – in relation to people we are open and welcome them with respect. This means that they know that they‘re coming to us, they’re not exposed to aggression and will be treated civilly and given the opportunity to talk. At the same time, we have a very definite stance and I never – in some sense this is the status that I have won for myself meaning that even though I head a non-governmental organisation, no one questions the fact that I also participate, and take up very clear positions – in public debates where I make it very clear what kind of a Poland I’m for and what kind I’m against.

Aleksander Smolar (b. 1940) is a Polish writer, political activist and adviser, vice-president of the Institute for Human Sciences and president of the Stefan Batory Foundation.

Listeners: Vitek Tracz

Vitek Tracz is a London-based entrepreneur who has been involved in science publishing, pharmaceutical information and mobile phone-based navigation.

Tags: Lech Kaczyński, Jarosław Kaczyński

Duration: 1 minute, 19 seconds

Date story recorded: September 2017

Date story went live: 09 November 2018