mgr Arkadiusz Paruch

ORCID: 0009-0007-9013-3913
The topic of my dissertation is: Sustainable Development in the State of Real Socialism? The Protect of the Environment in Poland in the Years 1944-1989.
The main research hypothesis of this doctoral thesis posits that, for most of the period known as ‘People’s Poland’, environmental protection issues did not fall within the sphere of interest of the central authorities. Nevertheless, the thesis’s problem statement is based on the assertion that, over the course of 45 years, the concept of environmental policy evolved – from an extremely pro-industrial stance to an approach that was more aware of the negative consequences of the actions taken.
A clear turning point, which caused environmental policy during the period in question to take a different course from before, was the Act on the Protection and Shaping of the Environment of 31 January 1980. These provisions constituted the first post-war piece of legislation to take a holistic approach to the issue of caring for the ecosystem. The introduction of the Act can be seen as something of a paradox, as it ran counter to the pro-industrial ideology of real socialism. Consequently, the research questions in this thesis will also revolve around the following issues:
•    What were the actual consequences of this piece of legislation?
•    What significance did it have – was it symbolic in nature, did it mark a turning point, or was it merely a consequence of the systemic crisis in the real-socialist economy?
•    Was it an attempt by the authorities to take action aimed at resolving problems related to environmental degradation?
At the same time, it is necessary to carry out research to determine to what extent these legal measures have led to signs of a shift in public attitudes. It is precisely this step that will clarify to what extent the authorities’ attempts to remedy the ecological situation have been effective in practice, and how significant their impact has been on public life in the country.
Given the very title of this thesis, the key research question underpinning it is whether it makes sense to look for elements of a sustainable development strategy – which were virtually unknown at the time – within the policies of the People’s Republic of Poland. One of the key elements of this concept is concern for the natural environment, whilst simultaneously striving to improve the living conditions of the population. Given the attempts made during the era of real socialism to restrict economic activities harmful to the environment, the analogy that springs to mind in connection with the concept of sustainable development seems apt both as a loose association and as a research method for determining the shape of Polish environmental policy in the years 1944 –1989. This will enable a convincing presentation of the research findings, taking into account measures affecting the whole country as well as its areas most affected by pollution.
A fundamental concept underpinning the preparation of this dissertation is an emphasis on the eclectic character of sources. This is because, amongst a fairly substantial body of relevant material, it is possible to distinguish five distinct subtypes:
a)    Archival material
b)    Legal acts
c)    Statistical data
d)   Press materials
e)    Subject literature
Each of the subtypes discussed possesses distinct external and internal characteristics and requires different research methods and research questions. The most important aspect is to combine their strengths and create a convincing whole, resulting from the ‘harmonious coexistence’ of these elements.
The planned doctoral thesis will help to provide a comprehensive picture of the Polish state’s environmental policy between 1944 and 1989 and, for the field of environmental history, may serve as a starting point for research seeking to compare these findings with environmental changes in other countries of the Eastern Bloc. This will help to outline a general picture of the environmental situation in the countries behind the ‘Iron Curtain’.
In addition to the benefits for the academic world, the planned thesis may be well received in public discourse, where environmental issues are a frequently discussed aspect of social life. In the longer term, it will be possible to apply the research findings in efforts to raise environmental awareness amongst the Polish public. The content of the thesis itself may resonate within the ongoing intergenerational debate concerning the legacy of Poland’s era of real socialism and Polish society’s perception of that period.