Between Compromise and Action. Polish Conservative Thought and Attempts at Regaining Independence in the 19th Century

The restoration of Polish independence was preceded by numerous debates among the political and intellectual elites. The basic issue discussed in the 19th century was the national cause, to be more exact the birth of its modern form after independence had been regained. The agenda of compromise (broadly or narrowly understood) specified the not only political but primarily ideological involvement in the specific historical situation. The image of Polish conservative thought, which struggled with the issue of national independence, also carries with it, and sometimes primarily, a collection of values that would represent the fundamental component of the identity of a Pole living in an independent country. Alongside the issue of national interest, the history of conservative thought demonstrates how distinct the Poles interests are in comparison with their peers in European culture, It also shows the train of thought of the Polish intellectual elite in shaping of the idea of the nations independence and the developmental path of the idea of political realism, which overshadows reflection on the restoration of independence. Tradition, national heritage, consciousness and the national identity, cultural disparity with the West and political realism - these are the values that made their way onto the agenda of the national parties in 1918.