Between Empire and Nation: Polish Historiography of Russian and Soviet Rule, 19th–20th Centuries

Abstract

Poland’s historical experience as a territory contested by empires has profoundly shaped its historiographical traditions. This article examines how Polish historians have interpreted Russian and Soviet rule from the nineteenth century through the Cold War. Drawing on Polish academic journals, historical monographs, and archival debates, the study analyzes the shifting narratives of Russia’s role in Polish history and their impact on national identity.
The findings demonstrate that Polish historiography oscillated between narratives of victimhood, emphasizing oppression under tsarist and Soviet regimes, and narratives of resilience, highlighting resistance movements and cultural survival. During the interwar period, Polish historians developed comparative approaches that situated Russia’s imperial policies alongside those of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Under communist rule after 1945, historiography was constrained by ideological oversight, yet Polish scholars continued to develop subtle critiques by emphasizing local experiences and the distinctiveness of Polish society.
The article argues that Polish historiography represents a complex negotiation between empire and nation, memory and politics. By situating Polish interpretations of Russia and the Soviet Union within broader European debates, the study underscores the importance of national historiographies in shaping transnational understandings of empire. Ultimately, the article highlights how historiography itself becomes a site of political struggle, reflecting the entanglement of scholarship, identity, and power.