Contesting European Union From the ‘Heart of Europe’: A Peculiar Case of Polish Populist Euroscepticism After 2015

Abstract

Poland is an interesting example of a country in which a Eurosceptic government was elected by citizens who on the whole declare their commitment to European Union membership and trust in the European institutions. Notwithstanding, due to country-specific factors, Poles are prone to populist and anti-elitist rhetoric. Poland, similarly to other countries in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, serves also as a case study of how populism can be merged with Euroscepticism, which can be observed particularly on the right side of the political arena and enhanced by nationalism. The article focuses on Poland as a peculiar example of a country in which a populist Eurosceptic government was elected by citizens who on the whole declare their commitment to European Union membership but are prone to populist rhetoric and identity politics.