ZIEMKIEWICZ kontra BISKUPSKI: Czy mit Piłsudskiego zatruł polską politykę?

Does the myth of Józef Piłsudski still influence how Poles think about the state, politics, and leadership? In a conversation with the XBW Foundation, Hubert Biskupski speaks with Rafał Ziemkiewicz about the newly published book "Złorogi cieni Marshałka" (The Ominous Shadow of the Marshal), the Sanation, the May Coup, the Second Polish Republic, and disputes over Polish historical memory. The meeting took place at the Freedom Community Center. This is a conversation about Polish history, but also about the present: the cult of the strong man, the dispute over authority, political memory, social divisions, and the shadow Piłsudski casts on Polish thinking about the state. Premiere: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8:30 PM. The conversation is moderated by: Hubert Biskupski Guest: Rafał Ziemkiewicz Rafał Ziemkiewicz's latest book is now available: https://www.empik.com/zlowrogi-cien-m... Subscribe to the XBW Foundation channel and enable notifications if you are interested in conversations about Polish history, culture, literature, historical policy, and public debate. Table of Contents: 00:00 Introduction to the conversation 01:20 Why did Rafał Ziemkiewicz write "The Sinister Shadow of the Marshal"? 03:02 The Myth of Józef Piłsudski and His Power After the Polish People's Republic 05:03 The "Supreme Moral Dictatorship" and the Polish Dispute over Righteousness 06:47 The Myth of the "Mustached Marshal" and November 11th 10:23 How Was the Myth of Piłsudski Constructed? 12:03 Witos, the May Coup, and the Question of Caring for the State 15:00 National Minorities, the Election System, and the Problems of the Second Polish Republic 16:05 Piłsudski, Autonomy, and the Legend of the Strong Man 17:52 The Dispute over Narutowicz and the Political Emotions of the Second Polish Republic 31:01 What Shadow Did Piłsudski Cast on Poles? 36:25 The Year 1939, the Sanation, and Sikorski's Government in Exile 40:19 Wańkowicz, "Mongrelism" and the Political Violence of the Interwar Period 45:20 The Cult of the Strong Man in Polish Politics 51:12 Solidarity, Elites, and the Post-1989 Dispute 56:20 Could the Second Polish Republic Have Survived? 1:00:26 Moral Authority, Michnik, and Piłsudski's Legacy 1:05:15 Kaczyński, Tusk, and Tribal Division in Poland 1:10:02 Polish Politics Against the Crisis of the West 1:15:00 End of Conversation #RafalZiemkiewicz #Pilsudski #PolishHistory #XBWFoundation #ZłogiSienMarszalka