ENDE NEU AT KONFRONTACJE

APORIA NO. 5: THE TRAP OF POLITICAL NON-ALIGNMENT
Meeting with Agata Bielik-Robson and Cezary Michalski

The July protests against the removal of the independence of the judiciary were dominated by the “no logo” slogan. The protesters declared their aversion towards professional politicians; liberal-left media focused not only on the criticism of the ruling party but on the highlighting of the weakness of the opposition parties as well. Once again demonstrators manifested profound reluctance to turn social activism into party politics. What does, as seen in this context, the future hold for liberalism and the left in Poland? Is it possible to practice truly emancipatory politics without strong party representation? Is political non-alignment a progressively sensible idea or – perhaps on the contrary – does it metamorphose into wrongly understood idealism (faux sophistication, quietism, narcissism) that inadvertently feeds the reactionary drift? We will discuss all of the above (and more) in conversation with philosopher Agata Bielik-Robson and journalist and political commentator Cezary Michalski.