ABSTRACT
During the 1970s and 1980s an observer of the Polish political scene could see a xenophobic wave that was developing more or less in tandem with the decay of the Communist system of power. Similar changes occurred in other countries of east and central Europe, sometimes with tragic consequences. It was concluded by some that the end of the Communist system had made possible the revival of nationalist chauvinism which had effectively been suppressed by the totalitarian regimes. However, a more detailed analysis of events and trends since 1944 suggests a much more complex picture. My intention here is to re-examine basic facts concerning the changing attitudes of the Polish ruling party (or, more exactly, the factions inside it) towards national minorities. I will try to answer the questions: to what extent did the Communist system suppress (or try to suppress) ethnic conflicts and eliminate negative stereotypes of ‘aliens’? And was the collapse of Communism the main reason for the outburst of national hatred?
