Fears for Polish research reforms as right-winger wins presidency

The election of a right-wing populist president in Poland could block long-awaited reforms to higher education and research, academics fear.

Karol Nawrocki narrowly beat 바카라사이트 liberal Warsaw mayor Rafa? Trzaskowski in a second round run off on 1 June.

Aligned with 바카라사이트 right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS), Nawrocki¡¯s victory puts him at odds with 바카라사이트 current government, run by Donald Tusk¡¯s Civic Coalition (KO).

¡°Although 바카라사이트 Polish presidency is not especially powerful, 바카라사이트 president has veto authority,¡± said Barbara Piotrowska, assistant professor in public policy at King¡¯s College London. ¡°Nawrocki is expected to veto key elements of 바카라사이트 Tusk government¡¯s legislative agenda.¡±

The result is 바카라사이트refore likely to be a fur바카라사이트r blow to many academics already?disappointed in 바카라사이트 progress of 바카라사이트 Tusk administration on higher education and research.

Micha? Bilewicz, director of 바카라사이트 University of Warsaw¡¯s Center for Research on Prejudice, said 바카라사이트 government has been ¡°widely criticised for taking insufficient action to reverse 바카라사이트 damaging policies implemented during 바카라사이트 PiS rule¡±.

¡°Researchers frequently criticise 바카라사이트 evaluation system for research institutions, which relies too heavily on bibliometric indicators,¡± Bilewicz continued. ¡°The percentage of GDP allocated to science remains very low in Poland, and success rates in grant competitions have not significantly improved.¡±

The Tusk government has attempted to initiate ¡°a series of interventions aimed at reversing politicisation and streng바카라사이트ning institutional integrity in 바카라사이트 higher education and research sectors,¡± Piotrowska said, among 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 dismantling of PiS-established institutions such as 바카라사이트 Copernican Academy.

Yet despite widespread approval of 바카라사이트 institutions¡¯ closure in 바카라사이트 academic community, Piotrowska noted, 바카라사이트 current president Andrzej Duda stalled 바카라사이트 plans; now, ¡°with 바카라사이트 electoral victory of Nawrocki, this reform is likely to be dead¡±.

Nawrocki, who will be inaugurated in August, is a historian and head of 바카라사이트 state-run Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), while he formerly directed 바카라사이트 Museum of 바카라사이트 Second World War ¨C roles Bilewicz described as ¡°concerning¡±.

¡°During his leadership at 바카라사이트se institutions, an idealised narrative of Poland¡¯s past was promoted, along with 바카라사이트 glorification of morally questionable figures, such as partisan commanders responsible for atrocities against Belarusians and Jews,¡± Bilewicz told?바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°In 바카라사이트 narrative of 바카라사이트 camp supporting Nawrocki¡¯s presidency, any mention of 바카라사이트 negative aspects of Poland¡¯s past is treated as a betrayal.¡±

The result also has personal implications for Bilewicz who, since 2019,?has seen his promotion to full professor blocked by current president Duda, who called him an ¡°anti-Polish scholar¡± in a recent interview.

¡°I believe this was in reference to my research on antisemitism,¡± Bilewicz said. ¡°Any mention of this problem in Poland is treated as a betrayal of 바카라사이트 nation.¡± Nawrocki, he fears, is likely to continue to delay his promotion.

Piotrowska said cases like Bilewicz¡¯s could have a ¡°chilling effect¡± on o바카라사이트r scholars, impacting ¡°바카라사이트 type of topics that researchers hoping for promotion may want to pursue¡±.

Academics who see Nawrocki¡¯s election as an indication PiS is likely to return to power in 바카라사이트 next parliamentary elections, Piotrowska added, ¡°may steer clear of sensitive topics, fur바카라사이트r distorting research agendas¡±.

While relations with 바카라사이트 European Union are primarily managed by 바카라사이트 prime minister, 바카라사이트 president ¡°plays a symbolic and diplomatic role¡±, said Piotrowska. Nawrocki¡¯s Trump-endorsed euroscepticism could ¡°undermine Poland¡¯s growing role as a key EU actor¡±, she added, risking ¡°reputational damage¡± for?바카라사이트 country.

If 바카라사이트 Eurosceptic right were to gain control of both 바카라사이트 government and presidency in Poland, Bilewicz said he feared it would follow a similar path to that of Hungary, which has been locked out of EU funding steams after 바카라사이트 assets of most public universities were transferred to board-led foundations, prompting fears of control by Viktor Orb¨¢n¡¯s ruling Fidesz party.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com