ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to address some of the popular stereotypes concerning Poles, such as religious rigidness, general lack of tolerance, and Homo sovieticus mentality. One of the most common stereotypes concerning Poland has to do with its religiousness. Polak Katolik is a fixed phrase in the Polish language and conveys a mixture of meanings. Communism brought a very "special" experience to many of those who were born in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland is no exception in that respect. Postcommunist Poland still reflects some of those sentiments. They represent traditional, nationalist views on national identity. Many essays on the Polish experience with statehood over the course of history devote a great deal of attention to the geographical location of Poland. The concept of Poland being an Antemurale Christianitatis much precedes the siege of Vienna in 1683.
