Panel discussion
23 maja @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The May Coup of 1926: Interpretations, Controversies, Legacy
Date and time: 23 May 2026, 16:00–18:00 (British Summer Time, BST)
Programme
16:00–16:15
Opening Introduction: Dr hab. Paweł Duber (Polish University Abroad in London)
Framing the historical complexity of the May Coup and presenting key interpretative challenges
Opening Introduction: Dr hab. Paweł Duber (Polish University Abroad in London)
Framing the historical complexity of the May Coup and presenting key interpretative challenges
16:15–17:20
Moderated Panel Discussion
Moderated Panel Discussion
The discussion will be structured around three main thematic blocks:
- Democratic Fragility, Nationalism, and Political Culture
Was the democratic model introduced in 1918 viable in the conditions of the Second Republic? How does the Polish case compare to other states in the region? - Piłsudski, Disillusionment, and the Turn to Authoritarianism
To what extent did Piłsudski’s resort to force reflect personal disillusionment, structural weakness, or the broader limits of liberal parliamentarianism in Poland? - Legacy and Collective Memory
How should contemporary democratic Poland interpret the legacy of May 1926 and its place in political tradition?
17:20–18:00
Open Discussion and Final Reflections
Open Discussion and Final Reflections
Participants
- Prof. Marek Kornat
(Institute of History Polish Academy of Sciences; Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw) - Prof. Joshua Zimmerman
(Yeshiva University) -
Prof. Maciej Górny
(Institute of History Polish Academy of Sciences) -
Dr Mateusz Hubner
(Institute of the History of Science Polish Academy of Sciences)
ZOOM LINK:
Polish University Abroad LONDON is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Polish University Abroad Zoom Meeting – The May Coup of 1926: Interpretations, Controversies, Legacy
Time: May 23, 2026 15:30 London
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 849 9969 5966
Passcode: 092843