Post-Soviet Nostalgia: Exploring its Existence and Impact

1. Krusevo International Youth Conference DOES THE POST-SOVIET NOSTALGIA STILL EXIST? Jakub Gradziuk Res Publica Foundation Krusevo, 26th September 2014

2. RES PUBLICA – THOUGHT PROVOKING WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THOSETHAT DETERMINE THE SHAPE OF TOMORROW. Everybody is welcome in the discussion regardless of differences of opinion. Ideas have practical consequences. An honest debate about them is thefoundation of inclusive laws, and simplifications are inherently excluding. THIS IS WHY FOR THREEGENERATIONS WE HAVE BEEN THE PREDOMINANT VOICE IN THE DEBATE ABOUT THE REPUBLIC.

3. Structure of the presentation • The Pulse of Europe 2009: 20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall • Polish People’s Republic 2014: Experience, evalution, associations • Back to the post socialist aesthetics • Conclusions

4. And this daily culture (not the country or the political system) is the source of nostalgia, if something like this exists at all. Because nostalgia is a matter of heart, just like music. The Culture of Lies, Dubravka Ugresic

5. 7 wonders of communism • Everyone had a job • Although everyone had a job, no one worked • Although no one worked, the plan was completed • Although the plan was completed, there was nothing • Although there was nothing,everyone had everything • Although people had everything, they were all stealing • Although everything was stolen… nothing was missing!

6. 7 wonders of capitalism • Not everyone has a job • Although not everyone has a job, everyone works • Although everyone works, the plan is not completed • Although the plan is not completed in 100%, you can buy everything • Although there is everything, not everyone has everything • Although not everyone has everything, steal those who have everything • Although steal only those who have everything, nobody has been caught

7. The Pulse of Europe 2009: 20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall Pew Research Global Attitudes Project

13. People’s Poland: Experience, evalution, associations Public Opinion Research Center

19. Marcin Brocki’s ethnographic research (1) • deeper interpersonal relationships in PRL • compulsory social act • free holidays for workers • social security

20. Marcin Brocki’s ethnographic research (2) • political persecutions • struggle with the church • all types of deficiencies

21. Key factors determining the image of PRL • financial situation and quality of life • family situation • way of creating PRL by media and politicians

22. Back to the post-socialist aesthetics

23. social media network extra club for people born in the PRL 270 000 users inPRL.pl

24. Back to the post socialst aesthetics

25. MILK BARS

26. The Game „Line” made by The Insitute of National Remembrance

27. SPOD LADY

28. PAN TU NIE STAŁ

29. COMMUNISM TOURS

30. Conclusions (1) • Polish society has a very ambiguous but critical attitude to PRL (Polish People’s Republic) • the difference in attitude is caused by - age - beneficiaries of 89’ transformation

31. Conclusions (2) • Post socialist nostalgia exists and 25 years after PRL’s colapse is more visible than before (e.g. in mass culture) • The most nostalgic are those born in late 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s • They miss different things for different reasons