Przeciw systemowi w imię "Wielkiej Polski"? Geneza Ruchu Narodowego i jego działalność w latach 2012-2015

Geneza Ruchu Narodowego i jego działalność w latach 2012-2015.

Summary This dissertation is devoted to the origins and the activity of the National Movement (Ruch Narodowy, RN) in the years 2012–2015. It comprises four chapters. The first chapter examines the origins of the party, with a particular focus on the activities of its future cornerstones: the All-Polish Youth (Młodzież Wszechpolska) and the National Radical Camp (Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny, ONR). In both cases, the analysis relies on concepts derived from the sociology of social movements (SSM), especially the works of Donatella della Porta and Charles Tilly. Much attention is devoted to the similarities and differences between these two organizations as regards both ideology and tactics. The circumstances surrounding the beginning of cooperation, connected among others with the organization of the Independence March, are also described. The next chapter reconstructs the RN’s collective identity on the basis of speeches delivered by its leaders. The conceptual framework is again provided by the SSM, particularly the works of Manuel Castells and Charles Tilly. In line with the typology proposed by Castells, the RN is characterized as combining resistance and project identities. Also described in this chapter is the RN’s internal debate from the years 2012–2015, which concerned standing for election and organizational structure of the party but eventually led to ONR’s withdrawal. The third chapter discusses RN’s election campaigns from 2014–2015. With reference to the works of Herbert Kitschelt and Michael Minkenberg, the RN’s formula and activities in this period are described as a movement party, i.e. a party that shares resources with a social movement and uses its characteristic repertoire simultaneously with standard activities of political parties. As a result, much attention is given not only to election materials or statements by various RN’s activists, but also to their street actions showcasing their strength or uncompromising attitude. The final chapter attempts to classify the RN as a political party. Since the labels of an extremist party or the populist right are rejected, the RN is taken to represent a radical right party as understood by Cas Mudde. The RN’s similarity to a protest party is also noted, especially in its nativist and revitalist variants described by Bartłomiej Michalak. The RN is also seen as displaying “weak” anti-systemness, i.e. one that targets the party system and inter-parties consensus.