Scientists from the Jagiellonian University and the University of Lisbon will investigate the cases of Poland and Portugal in order to find similarities and differences between the two countries in four crucial contemporary political and social issues: European Union citizenship, migration, populism, and LGBT rights. It will be possible thanks to a grant by the National Agency for Academic Exchange.
The chief aim of the bilateral exchange with the Portugal is to increase staff mobility and participation in international research projects. The funds acquired distributed these bilateral agreements may only be used for travelling purposes, and while they do not cover the research projects themselves, they are an excellent support.
The project, submitted by Dr Ewa Karamad from the JU Faculty of International and Political Studies, is based on the presumption that Poland and Portugal exhibit both several structural similarities – such as peripheral location in the EU, role of Catholicism in the formation of political discourse, and relatively recent experience with authoritarian government – and quite a few differences, like geographical location, history of colonialism, and the nature of their past dictatorships. The proposed research project will establish a relationship between the similarities and differences in both countries.
Researchers will analyse the social and political discourse in both countries with respect to several common criteria. Additionally, they will employ methods used in political and legal analysis to examine the institutional aspects of studied cases. The project will allow the scientists to observe how the basic characteristics of European societies and their memories of recent history affect the state of current debates on ideological and political matters. Juxtaposing Poland and Portugal should allow the researchers to come up with theories regarding the role of peripheral countries in shaping European public opinion.
The project will be realised through a series of seminars for Polish and Portuguese researchers. It will result in an exchange of experiences and allow for a close investigation of contemporary EU issues from various perspectives. The results will be published in a series of papers in Polish and Portuguese journals.
