Morska woda, morska wola. Morze w polskim dyskursie kolonialnym

Abstract

The text is a brief discussion of the process of “taming” the Baltic Sea in the Polish public discourse of the interwar period. The author recalls the absence of the sea in the imaginary of Polish modernity and follows the turn that took place after regaining independence: in the new Polish state, the short Polish coast tasked with fulfilling many expectations and carrying many meanings. The Polish Baltic Sea was expected to be industrialized and recreational, modern and natural, local and imperial. The text also deals with the topic of Polish colonial plans, which the author interprets primarily as an attempt to “export poverty” and solve social problems through their physical expedition overseas.