Polish Liberal Thought Before 1918

"Polish liberal tradition has generally been considered weak or even non-existent. Janowski, on the other hand, argues that nineteenth-century Poland inherited a strong protoliberal tradition from the nobility-based democracy, and that in the mid-nineteenth century, liberalism was a dominant trend in Polish intellectual life, even if it rarely appeared in its pure form and did not create political movements separating liberal aims from patriotic ones." "Based on solid research, this comprehensive analysis applies a broad comparative perspective, taking into account the historical experience of other nations of Central Europe. Janowski's innovative interpretation may be the starting point for new debates in the ongoing discussion on the different perceptions of liberalism."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved